The “Admiral Castex Prize”, named after a French naval general known for his work as both a naval and maritime theorist as well as a geopolitical thinker, aims to promote original and innovative research on the strategic challenges of the sea.

For this year, which marks the 400th anniversary of the Navy, and also occurs in a context of hybrid warfare in Europe and accelerated developments in the field of autonomous military platforms, three themes have been selected for the prize:
 

“From 1626 to 2026: Shifts and Continuities in Naval Warfare”

“Strategy and Implementation of Critical Infrastructure Protection”

“Integration of Autonomous Systems into a Naval Fleet: Methods, Contributions, and Limits for Future Warfare”
 

Each theme will have a distinct single prize with an award of €1,500. The prizes will be presented by the Chief of the French Navy during the concluding reception of the PNC. Winners may also have their work published by Ifri.

The “Admiral Castex Prize” aims to reward original thinking, contributing significantly to maritime and naval debate while adhering to the highest international academic standards. In this regard, particular attention will be paid to the methodology used, regardless of the scientific field in which it falls.

Participation Guidelines:

• A single candidate may compete for only one theme, which must be explicitly indicated at the beginning of the document.
• Articles must be between 15,000 and 25,000 characters (including spaces and footnotes) and may be written in French or English.
• Research must be original and not previously published. However, it is accepted to adapt part of a master’s thesis, doctoral dissertation, or work completed during civilian or military studies, provided length criteria are respected.
• Plagiarism is strictly prohibited, and submissions will be checked for plagiarism.
• No specific degree or academic background is required. Participation by PhD students, researchers, or active-duty officers is particularly encouraged.
• Texts must be sent in Word format only before 17 December 2025 to [email protected], accompanied by a short biography. They will be anonymized before review by the jury.

Awards:

• After deliberation by the jury, composed of international military authorities and renowned researchers, the best article for each theme will be awarded a €1,500 prize.
• Prizes will be presented during the concluding reception of the Paris Naval Conference on 3 February 2026 by Admiral Nicolas Vaujour (CEMM) and Ifri's Director, Thomas Gomart.
• Subject to the jury’s and Ifri’s approval, and with the author’s consent, winning articles may be published by Ifri.

For any questions or article submissions, please contact Ifri's Security Studies Center at [email protected], indicating “Admiral Castex Prize” in the subject line.