Because science is at the heart of human progress

The AXA Research Fund is AXA Group’s global scientific philanthropy initiative, launched in 2008 to address the most important issues facing our planet. It supports human progress by funding research in key areas related to risk and helping inform public and private decision-making based on science.

Our strategy

A mandate-driven approach

The AXA Research Fund functions on a five-year mandate with a main mission at heart: supporting transformative and excellent science. The current mandate, launched in January 2023, is focused on further strengthening the transdisciplinary exploration of emerging risks, to consolidate links between academic experts, industry and the public sector around major societal issues for informed decision-making, and to implement innovative formats for the dissemination of scientific knowledge for the benefit of decision-makers and the public. 

The AXA Research Fund is one of our most important philanthropic commitments. By funding research on the preservation of our planet, the improvement of health and the stability of our economies and societies, we are fully committed to act for human progress by protecting what matters.

Thomas Buberl CEO of AXA

Our purpose

Accelerating science to protect what matters

We seek to support scientists of the highest caliber and potential whose research projects are innovative and transformative. We also strive to catalyze a step-change in the career of its supported researchers through funding, public engagement, and increased collaboration.

Disseminating knowledge and informing decision-making

We work to accelerate scientific dissemination. In addition to financial support, we assist researchers in outreach efforts through the engagement of the research community with media partners and non-scientific audiences. Ultimately, our goal is the dissemination of scientific knowledge towards better informed decision-making.

Our work

The Fund’s work is directed towards major risks our society is facing in the areas of health, environment, and socio-economy & new tech. This scope is also aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

250 M€

committed to research

700+

Research projects funded

43%

women-led research projects

430

academic institutions supported

in 39

countries

Committed to contribute to global societal challenges related to health, environment, and socio-economy & new tech.

Supported institutions

From Argentina to Vietnam, we work with the best. Discover the institutions we collaborate with.

Sorbonne University

University of Cambridge

Ecole Polytechnique

Imperial College London

Nanyang Technological University

Tel Aviv University

ETH Zürich

Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi

University of Oxford

Spanish National Research Council

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Uppsala University

Koç University

Toulouse School of Economics

University of Cape Town

Leiden University

University of Cologne

Cornell University

University of California - Berkeley

Chinese Academy of Sciences

Columbia University

Sapienza University of Rome

University of KU Leuven

Technical University of Crete

University Paris-Saclay

 The AXA Research Fund provides an amazing opportunity to enable scientific research that responds to urgent and critical risks of our time. By supporting change-makers in a diversity of fields, the Fund helps expedite action towards a more equitable, sustainable and safer society for all. 

Prof. Debra Roberts President of the AXA Research Fund Scientific Board

Our governance

The AXA Research Fund Scientific Board

To ensure relevance, excellence, and the independence of its projects, the AXA Research Fund is advised by a team of experts including a scientific board responsible for ensuring the transparency and the integrity of the selection process for every research project that is awarded funding. 

Debra Roberts

President of Scientific Board, Head of the Sustainable & Resilient City Initiatives Unit in eThekwini Municipality in Durban, South Africa

Carol Brayne

Professor of Public Health Medicine, University of Cambridge, UK

Isabel Díaz

Deputy Vice-President, International Cooperation of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)

Lawrence Lessig

Former Director of Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, Harvard University; Roy L. Furman Professor of Law, Harvard Law School, USA

Marja Jylhä

Professor of Gerontology, Department of Health Sciences, Tampere University, Finland

Olivier Boucher

CNRS Research Director, Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, France

Raja Chatila

Professor Emeritus of AI, Robotics & IT Ethics, Sorbonne University, France

The AXA Research Fund Advisory Board

The Advisory Board, composed of C-suite AXA Group business leaders, provides inputs on broad strategic development and research fields to be developed.

Alexander Vollert

Chief Operating Officer, AXA Group

Ulrike Decoene

Chief Communication, Brand & Corporate Responsibility Officer, AXA Group

Julien Guénot

Regional Director for Southern Europe, AXA XL

Françoise Gilles

Group Chief Risk Officer, AXA Group

Claudio Gienal

Chief Transformation Officer AXA Europe & Health

Garance Wattez-Richard

Head of AXA EssentiALL

Gilles Moëc

Chief Economist, AXA Group