Michael Antioco : « EDHEC joins the ‘Safe Place For Science’ initiative and opens several research positions in finance and strategy »

In an international context in which academic freedom is under threat, EDHEC Business School is implementing the ‘Safe Place for Science’ initiative, in line with the initiatives from the University of Paris Sciences & Lettres, Aix Marseille University and CentraleSupelec (1).

With a budget of €1.5 million per year dedicated to the recruitment and retention of researchers currently working in the United States, the school aims to be a ‘refuge’ for free and positive-impact science. In this interview, Michael Antioco, Dean of Faculty and Research, explains the philosophy and implementation of this decision.

Why has EDHEC Business School chosen to intensify its support for academic freedom?

Michael Antioco: EDHEC has always been a place where research is guided by the concepts of impact, excellence and transmission (2). At a time when some scientists in the United States are encountering obstacles (3) – whether budgetary restrictions or political interference – we feel it is essential to offer them an environment where they can pursue their work in complete freedom. We fully identify with the collective opinion piece published in mid-March in Le Monde (4), and we want to be a refuge for these talents, a space where research remains independent, ambitious and focused on major societal issues.

We have every latitude and legitimacy to do so: on the one hand, operating as an independent higher education institution, recognised as being of general interest and with a not-for-profit status (2); and on the other hand, being an institution with international visibility, triple AMBA-EQUIS-AACSB accredited (like only 1% of business schools!) and since 2021 ranked among the top 10 management schools in Europe according to the FT (5).

What type of researchers do you want to attract and in what fields?

Michael Antioco: We are primarily targeting researchers who are currently working in an institution based in the United States, who are conducting scientific research and teaching in two fields that are essential for us: finance and strategy.

In finance, EDHEC offers a stimulating and demanding environment, in line with what can be expected from major international institutions. To be more precise, we have 5 specialties in mind: machine learning applied to finance, climate finance, market predictability, portfolio construction, and asset valuation.

Then there is strategy, an area in which we are investing considerably – I am thinking in particular of our new Centre for Net Positive Business – targeting scientists interested in new business models and the creation of value by companies for society as a whole.

To address contemporary issues and respond to them more effectively, we are also recruiting researchers working in climate science.

I should also point out that with three campuses in Lille, Nice and Paris (6), the researchers recruited will be joining an institution with several living and working options.

So the school is breaking with certain trends observed in the United States?

Michael Antioco: We are not talking about “breaking with”, but about an alternative. EDHEC offers a different vision: we advocate for research that remains free, connected to the great challenges of our time (7) and conducted in a stable environment that respects everyone.

We have always defended and implemented the alliance between academic excellence and impact. We do not want ‘isolated’ research, but research that transforms the world, by and with our professors, our students, our partners, and also our alumni.

A message for researchers who are hesitating to take the plunge?

Michael Antioco: If you are a researcher in the United States and you recognize yourself in the profiles indicated, the culture of our school and its faculty – I invite you to visit our website to get an idea (8) – and you are tempted by an adventure in Europe, let's talk about it.

Our message is simple: we are ready to welcome you. EDHEC is an institution that values innovation, diversity and the transmission of knowledge. Our community is booming – over the past three academic years, we have recruited more than 40 professors, and our new strategic plan ‘Générations 2050’ involves the recruitment of 100 new professors and researchers in total by 2028 (9)!

The exact details of this initiative will be published on our website in the next few days, but please contact me now via [email protected].

References

(1) Trump menace la science : Saclay, CentraleSupélec et Toulouse prêts à accueillir les chercheurs visés - https://www.challenges.fr/grandes-ecoles/trump-menace-la-science-saclay-centralesupelec-et-toulouse-prets-a-accueillir-les-chercheurs-vises_601389

(2) About the EDHEC Business School - https://www.edhec.edu/en/about-us/why-edhec

(3) Plus de 1 900 chercheurs américains lancent un « SOS » face aux attaques de Donald Trump contre la science - https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2025/04/01/plus-de-1-900-chercheurs-americains-lancent-un-sos-face-aux-attaques-de-donald-trump-contre-la-science_6589451_3244.html

(4) Appel pour un accueil des chercheurs américains : « Notre devoir en Europe est de réagir collectivement et de proposer des solutions » - https://www.lemonde.fr/education/article/2025/03/18/appel-pour-un-accueil-des-chercheurs-americains-notre-devoir-en-europe-est-de-reagir-collectivement-et-de-proposer-des-solutions_6583044_1473685.html

(5) EDHEC Rankings and Accreditations - https://www.edhec.edu/en/about-us/why-edhec/ranking-accreditations

(6) Our campuses - https://www.edhec.edu/en/student-experience/our-campuses

(7) Ecoles de commerce - Emmanuel Métais : « Le modèle économique doit réussir à concilier excellence et bien commun » - https://www.lesechos.fr/idees-debats/cercle/ecoles-de-commerce-le-modele-economique-doit-reussir-a-concilier-excellence-et-bien-commun-2157975

(8) Research and Faculty at EDHEC - https://www.edhec.edu/en/research-and-faculty

(9) Our strategy for future generations - https://www.edhec.edu/en/about-us/why-edhec/strategy