Chaire SHS – TNEF
To better understand the digital transformation of French Firms
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The TNEF Chair is funded through the Ile de France Region’s “Humanities and Social Sciences Research Chairs” programme, a regional research support initiative designed to strengthen high-quality research in the social sciences and humanities.
The TNEF Chair is held by Ambre Elsas-Nicolle and is hosted at Mines Paris – PSL University, within the Centre for Industrial Economics (CERNA).
Overview
The research conducted at the Chair focuses on the digital transformation of French firms, with particular attention to the adoption of advanced digital technologies, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and big data. Despite a strong digital infrastructure, French firms lag behind their European counterparts in adopting these technologies, with pronounced disparities between large and SME firms (See the European Commission’s report here).
Research objectives
The Chair’s research aims to:
- Analyse patterns and determinants of advanced digital technology adoption among French firms.
- Assess the effectiveness of public policies and support programmes designed to foster digital transformation.
- Examine the impact of European digital regulations (such as the GDPR, the Digital Markets Act, the Digital Services Act, and the AI Act) on firms’ technological choices and performance.
Scientific approach
The research relies primarily on longitudinal firm-level data from INSEE (in particular its ICT surveys), complemented by data from ARCEP and European sources (DESI, Eurostat). It applies advanced econometric methods, including panel-data models and difference-in-differences designs, to establish causal relationships among policy, regulation, and technology adoption.
Expected impact
The TNEF Chair aims to contribute to academic research through publications in peer-reviewed international journals, while also delivering policy-oriented reports addressed to public authorities and business leaders. By identifying barriers and levers to digital adoption, the Chair seeks to support evidence-based policymaking and strengthen the competitiveness of French firms within the European digital economy.
Open Positions: Join the TNEF Chair!
As part of the TNEF Chair, two research positions will soon be open. These positions are fully funded through the Chair and offer the opportunity to contribute to a high-level research programme at the intersection of digital economics, public policy, and European regulation.
- PhD Position (3 years)
The Chair will hire a fully funded PhD candidate (contrat doctoral) for the period 2026-2029, based at Mines Paris – PSL University (CERNA). The doctoral research will focus on the adoption of advanced digital technologies by firms (cloud, AI, big data), with particular attention to firm heterogeneity, public policies supporting digital transformation, and the impact of European digital regulation. The PhD candidate will work with rich longitudinal firm-level data and apply state-of-the-art microeconometric methods. The expected start date is September or October 2026.
- Research Internship (Master’s level)
The Chair will also recruit a research intern (Master 1 or Master 2) for spring/summer 2026, for a duration of 3 to 6 months. The internship will focus on the comparative analysis of digital technology usage by firms in Europe, drawing on European datasets (Digital Decade, Digital Scoreboard). The intern will contribute to literature reviews, data analysis, and the preparation of research outputs and reports within a strongly academic research environment.
Detailed calls for applications will be published shortly. For expressions of interest or inquiries: chaire.tnef@minesparis.psl.eu