2026 Research Call for Projects: Institut Europlace de Finance Supports Innovation in Economics and Finance

The Institut Europlace de Finance (IEF), a member of the Institut Louis Bachelier, is launching its 2026 Research Call for Projects. As part of this initiative, 10 research projects will each receive €10,000 in funding to support innovative academic research addressing the major transformations shaping today's financial system.

An open call for researchers in economics, finance and related disciplines

This call is open to researchers in economics and finance, as well as to researchers from other disciplines whose methods or research topics can contribute to a better understanding of current economic and financial transformations.

Projects must be led primarily by academic researchers and include at least one researcher affiliated with a French academic institution.

Three main research areas

To encourage a broad range of perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches, the call is structured around three major research themes.

1. Macroeconomic Transformations and Financial Sovereignty

Research proposals may address topics including:

• The sustainability of public finances and sovereign debt markets;
• The Savings and Investment Union, European capital markets, and European safe assets;
• Digital currencies and the digital euro;
• Financing defence, the energy transition, and strategic infrastructure;
• Commodities, supply chains, and economic sovereignty.

2. Finance, Risk and Capital Allocation

Projects may explore subjects such as:

• The evolution of banking, insurance, asset management and asset-liability management models;
• Insurance, risk-sharing, value for money, and resilience to climate, demographic and geopolitical risks;
• Private assets, private debt, long-term financing and new forms of financial intermediation;
• Asset allocation, market liquidity, price formation and changes in market structures;
• Systemic risk, financial stability and interconnectedness within the financial system.

3. Financial Technologies and the Infrastructure of the Future

Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Artificial intelligence, data, financial innovation and associated systemic risks;
• Governance, explainability, performance measurement, security and regulation of digital technologies;
• Cyber risk and operational resilience;
• Blockchain, tokenisation, digital currencies and the transformation of market infrastructures;
• Fintechs, digital platforms and the evolution of market structures and financial intermediation.

Priority given to the most innovative projects

The selection committee will give priority to projects that explore original approaches or emerging research topics that remain under-investigated. Where proposals are of equivalent scientific quality, particular consideration will be given to projects for which IEF funding is a key enabling factor.

Successful applicants will be expected to present and discuss their research with the partners of the Institut Louis Bachelier throughout the course of their project.

Application process

Applications are open until 26 October 2026.

Research proposals should be 5 to 10 pages in length (excluding references) and include the following sections:

1. Research topic and background;
2. Literature review;
3. Project description and methodology;
4. Expected contribution;
5. Research team;
6. Budget and timeline.

Applications must be submitted via the dedicated submission platform:

https://callforprojects-u3.vm.elestio.app/

For further information, please contact Samia Brisson at samia.brisson@institutlouisbachelier.org.

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