OPEN COMPETITIONS CR26-ECOSOCIO-2
Junior research scientist in Economics of (directed) technical change
35000 RENNES
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INRAE presentation
INRAE, the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment, is a public research organization bringing together 12,000 employees across 272 units in 18 centers across France. As the world’s leading institute specializing in agriculture, food, and the environment, INRAE plays a key role in supporting the necessary transitions to address global challenges.
Faced with population growth, food security challenges, climate change, resource depletion, and biodiversity loss, INRAE is committed to developing scientific solutions and supporting the evolution of agricultural, food, and environmental practices.
INRAE is recruiting researchers by open competition and offering permanent position.
Work environment, missions and activities
The Joint Research Unit “Agricultural Structures and Markets, Resources and Territories” (UMR SMART) is an economics research unit bringing together researchers from INRAE and Institut Agro Rennes-Angers on three sites: Rennes, Nantes, and Angers. It is a research and teaching group in economics applied to agriculture, agri-food, and the environment. It is internationally recognized for the quality of its work, not only academic but also in terms of expertise.Research on directed innovation is currently very active following the pioneering work of Daron Acemoglu (Nobel Prize in economics, 2024). In the long term, changes in the economic and regulatory context result in the emergence of new technologies. Your research will aim to understand the determinants and the role of technological changes in the transition towards more sustainable agricultural production.
Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of induced innovations and appropriate econometric techniques, you will seek to reveal the economic and/or regulatory determinants of past developments in agricultural production technologies, and to analyze the characteristics of public policies that stimulate the emergence of more socially beneficial technologies. Your research programme will aim to provide answers to questions such as: Has the CAP induced the emergence of new agricultural technologies? Can public policies in France or Europe induce the emergence of green agricultural technologies? Can this be achieved by increasing the price of polluting agricultural technologies and/or based on a set of standards?
Drawing on the most recent literature, your research programme will consist in adapting the analytical framework of targeted innovations and the associated micro- or macro-econometric techniques to address the following two types of questions. Have past agricultural and environmental policies (e.g., the CAP in Europe, the Farm Bill in the United States) triggered and directed technical and organizational changes (e.g., agricultural inputs, production practices, sectors) in the agricultural and agri-food production sectors? Which public policies are most likely to stimulate and guide the technical and organizational changes that the agricultural and agri-food production sectors will need to meet the challenges they will face in the future?
You will conduct your research in an environment conducive to scientific development. You will benefit from the SMART joint research unit's expertise in economics and econometric modelling, as well as its expertise in agricultural and agri-food production economics and agricultural and agri-environmental policies. You will also have access to a large network of collaborators located in France and abroad. The successful candidate will be provided with a well-equipped office with IT and telecommunications facilities, including access to relevant databases.
Training and skills
A PhD in economics, specializing in innovation economics, environmental economics, production economics, and/or public economics, is highly recommended.
Sound knowledge in economic modelling and statistical analysis is required. A good understanding of agricultural production economics, managed innovation, and/or econometric modeling would be appreciated.
Additional skills sought include autonomy and ethics in research, the ability to work in a team and engage in interdisciplinary dialogue.
Candidates should have a good command of English, and long-term international experience would also be desirable. Successful candidates who have not yet acquired this experience abroad will be required to do so after their probationary period (1st year).
INRAE's life quality
By joining our teams, you benefit from:
- 30 days of annual leave + 15 days "Reduction of Working Time" (for a full time);
- parenting support: CESU childcare, leisure services;
- skills development systems: training, career advise;
- social support: advice and listening, social assistance and loans;
- holiday and leisure services: holiday vouchers, accommodation at preferential rates;
- sports and cultural activities;
- collective catering.
For international scientists: please visit your guide to facilitate your arrival and stay at INRAE.
How to apply
- I download the applicant guide Guide for applicants 2026 pdf - 1.41 MB
- I write down the profile number CR26-ECOSOCIO-2
- I apply GO
All persons employed by or hosted at INRAE, a public research establishment, are subject to the Civil Service Code, particularly with regard to the obligation of neutrality and respect for the principle of secularism. In carrying out their functions, whether or not they are in contact with the public, they must not express their religious, philosophical or political convictions through their behaviour or by what they wear. > Find out more: fonction publique.gouv.fr website (in French)