Research and Innovation: How Excellence Chairs Are Transforming Insurance
The Future of Actuarial Science with BNP Paribas Cardif X ACTIONS

An innovative partnership between BNP Paribas Cardif, the Fondation du Risque and the Institut des Actuaires led to the creation of the ACTIONS Chair (Actuaries for Change in Technologies and Insurees Opportunities for Next Steps).

Objective: to advance actuarial practices by supporting both theoretical and applied research.

Philanthropy in Service of Science

The ACTIONS Chair highlights a winning partnership: BNP Paribas Cardif funds PhDs, postdoctoral projects, conferences, and other scientific initiatives aimed at understanding and modelling the evolution of policyholders and communicating about risk. This initiative brings together about ten researchers from French and international institutes, enhanced by the expertise of the working groups of the Institut des Actuaires and Cardif’s managers.

Four Promising Research Areas

The Chair’s work addresses key issues for the insurance sector, including:

• Carbon footprint and repairability:
  Instead of replacing damaged items such as phones, bicycles, or cars, why not prioritise repairing them? This eco-friendly approach aims to reduce environmental impact while raising policyholder awareness.
• Parametric insurance:
  In response to natural catastrophes such as droughts or epidemics, this solution enables almost instant compensation, without waiting for lengthy expert assessments. A lifeline for struggling farms or livestock operations.
• Raising awareness about risk mutualisation:
  Through educational initiatives, the Chair promotes a better understanding of insurance mechanisms to guide policyholders in their choices and behaviours.
• Use of health data:
  The CONSTANCES cohort, with its 220,000 volunteers monitored for over 10 years, offers a wealth of information on policyholder behaviour. This data helps model new risks and develop prevention strategies.

Five Years to Transform the Rules

With a five-year horizon, the ACTIONS Chair has set ambitious goals: combining scientific advances with practical applications, strengthening ties between academic research and corporate needs.

This model of an excellence chair illustrates an inspiring vision where innovation and collaboration shape the future of insurance. A challenge to follow closely!

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