AXA Research Fund inauguration speech
"Everywhere, academic researchers need support"
Ezra Suleiman, Chairman of the Scientific Board of the AXA Research Fund
I am very pleased with AXA's initiative to create a Research Fund, and it was without hesitation that I accepted to chair its Scientific Board. I did so for two reasons.
The first reason is that I am convinced that the future of our societies greatly depends on our capacity to understand and face what surrounds us. In such areas as health, climate, the economy or labor, we have a number of opportunities to better understand trends that are only gradually making their impact known. Thousands of researchers dedicate their lives to such endeavors. I have no doubt that AXA's 100 million Euro commitment will significantly contribute to our progress in these domains.
The second reason is that I deeply believe that whatever helps to augment the available pool of funds for research can only be good for our societies. In almost all industrial societies, research today no longer depends solely on state subsidies. It comes in many forms - scholarships, foundation grants, individual donations, endowments and company grants. The cooperation between the private sector and academic institutions that pursue research can only be salutary for both, and therefore for the society.
In addition, beside the creation of knowledge, developing and nurturing future talent is key to progress. We live in a knowledge-based economy. Generating and retaining intellectual elite is therefore an imperative for every country. Unlike what used to occur in the industrial age, today's competition is global and success depends on incessant innovation. This requires in turn incessant research. In short, it should be clear to everyone that without investments in fundamental and applied research, we will not be armed to face the challenges of the future.
Together with the members of the Scientific Board, who will soon be appointed, I will do my best to use this important initiative to fuel academic innovation and progress. In its early stages, the Fund will support institutions in Europe. Subsequently, we hope to be able to accept applications from outside the European Continent.
With this type of pioneering effort, we are providing ourselves with additional means to prepare a better future for current and future generations.