AXA supports academic research in the field of Responsible Investment

As part of its Responsible Investment strategy, AXA promotes various sectoral initiatives that aim to encourage the incorporation of social, environmental and corporate governance issues into investment decision-making. These include applying the Principles for Responsible Investment and joining the Enhanced Analytics Initiative. AXA also supports two research programs in this area: a "Sustainable Finance and Responsible Investment" research program and the FIR Awards for research in finance and sustainable development.

The "Sustainable Finance and Responsible Investment" research program is a partnership between École Polytechnique, Institut d'Économie Industrielle (IDEI) in Toulouse and the Finance Durable et Investissement Responsable association, with the support of the Association Française de la Gestion Financière and the Fonds de Réserve des Retraites. AXA IM is a founding member.

The work of this scientific research program should help to find new investment models that take into account the long-term environmental and social impacts of corporate activity. Research will focus on two main areas: "Financial markets, investment strategies and sustainable growth" and "Corporate governance and sustainable finance." The goal is to provide objective data to support the need for more responsible investment, develop research methodologies, and form a world-class scientific team.

This research program, the first of its kind in the world, is co-directed by Christian Gollier (IDEI) and Jean-Pierre Ponssard (Ecole Polytechnique) and will benefit from the skills of highly qualified, internationally renowned researchers. An event to officially inaugurate the program will be held at the École Militaire in Paris on January 30, 2008.

The AXA Group also supports research by contributing expertise and financial resources to the Forum pour l'Investissement Responsable (FIR) and its European research awards in the field of finance and sustainable development.

The FIR awards were launched in 2005 as a response to the need to promote academic research in the field of finance and sustainable development, still in its early stages. The purpose of the FIR awards is to widen the scope of research, paving the way for the introduction of innovative management techniques. It also enhances the image of French and European university research and the credibility of socially responsible investing (SRI). There are three award categories: Best Master's Thesis, Best PhD Thesis, and Best Article published in a scientific magazine. The amount of each award is €5,000.

Grants for work in "Financial instruments as a response to sustainable development challenges" and "Finance and social issues" are also awarded (€3,000 each). The selection committee and panel of judges are made up of university professors, representatives of businesses, including AXA IM and the AXA Group, and stakeholder representatives. The awards ceremony was held on January 21, 2008, at the Paris stock exchange. See www.frenchsif.org