AMF Opens Applications for 2026 Young Researcher in Economics Prize

Key Takeaways

• The French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) has opened applications for its 2026 "Young Researcher in Economics" prize, worth EUR $5,000, with a deadline of November 15, 2026.
• The prize carries no compliance obligations for regulated firms.
• It does signal the economic and financial research themes the AMF considers relevant to its regulatory work, which compliance teams may want to monitor.

Deep Dive

The French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) has opened applications for its 2026 "Young Researcher in Economics" prize, worth EUR $5,000, with a deadline of November 15, 2026. The prize carries no compliance obligations for regulated firms. It does signal the economic and financial research themes the AMF considers relevant to its regulatory work, which compliance teams may want to monitor.

The prize recognizes the best research on economic and financial topics of particular interest to a financial markets regulator. Applicants must hold a doctorate, be affiliated primarily with a French institution or have earned their doctorate in France, pursue a finance research project relevant to a market regulator, and be no older than 35 on December 31, 2025. Applications go by email to the AMF Scientific Council and must include a curriculum vitae with an up-to-date publication list, proof of age (identity card or passport), a thesis summary with the defense report, and up to two relevant published articles. The AMF Scientific Council and staff will select candidates, and the Board will choose the winner based on the Council's recommendation.

Key dates: the application deadline is November 15, 2026, final selection and publication of results are expected in December 2026, and the award ceremony is planned for January 2027. Applicants must submit identity documents to the AMF, so any firm employee or affiliated researcher who applies should be aware that personal data is being shared.

Recommended actions are limited. Compliance and regulatory affairs teams can share the notice with research, economics, or academic-partnership colleagues who may have eligible candidates. Teams should also track the winning research topics, announced from December 2026, as an informal indicator of AMF thematic interests, such as market structure, retail investor behavior, or sustainable finance. Firms that sponsor or collaborate with academic researchers should manage conflicts of interest and keep interactions with the AMF transparent. Overall, the risk and impact are minimal, with no regulatory exposure and only a modest horizon-scanning benefit.

Source: Autorité des marchés financiers