European Union allocates half a billion euros to attract scientists from Trump's U.S.A.
Rewritten Article:
Emmanuel Macron, the French President, and Ursula von der Leyen, the EU Commission President, are playing host to a Paris conference aimed at enticing disgruntled American researchers, thanks to policies under Donald Trump's administration. The gathering, titled "Choose Europe for Science," will take place at the prestigious Sorbonne University.
With EU commissioners, scientists, and research ministers from member countries in attendance, the discussions will revolve around financial perks to attract disillusioned scientists across the Atlantic.
In a nod to this initiative, von der Leyen announced a substantial EU budget package worth millions, stating, "Science is an investment - and we need to offer the right incentives. This is why I can announce that we will put forward a new €500 million package for 2025-2027 to make Europe a magnet for researchers."
With a focus on positioning research and innovation at the heart of their economies, she further added, "We are choosing to be the continent where universities are pillars of our societies and our way of life." She also outlined her ambition for EU-member states to invest 3 percent of their GDP in research and development by 2030.
Speaking at the event, Macron urged researchers, "If you love freedom, come and do your research here." He criticized the Trump administration's US science policy as a "diktat" and an "error."
He continued, "Nobody could have imagined that this great global democracy, whose economic model depends so heavily on free science... was going to commit such an error." He asserted, "We refuse a diktat consisting of any government being able to say you cannot research this or that."
Under Trump, American universities and research institutions have faced increasing political and financial pressures, including the looming threat of massive federal funding cuts. Research programs are on the brink of closure, tens of thousands of federal workers have lost their jobs, and foreign students live in fear of possible deportation due to their political views.
The European Union sees this as an opportunity to offer an appealing alternative for researchers, and, as a result, promote its strategic interests while advocating for a universalist vision. An official in Macron's office told AFP, "Europe is a continent of attractiveness."
France, in particular, has been actively courting foreign researchers, with Macron appealing to foreign scientists, notably US, to "choose France" and announcing plans for a funding program to help universities and other research bodies cover the costs associated with bringing foreign scientists to France.
Notably, Aix Marseille University in the south of the country reported a flood of applicants for its "Safe Place for Science" program after announcing in March that it would welcome US scientists facing funding cuts. Additionally, CNRS, France's flagship scientific research center, recently launched a new initiative to attract foreign researchers whose work is under threat and French researchers working abroad who prefer not to reside in Trump's United States.
Experts say that while EU countries offer competitive research infrastructure and a high quality of life, research funding and researchers' remuneration lag significantly behind US levels. Despite this, CNRS’s Petit expressed hope that the pay disparity would appear less significant once the lower cost of education and health, along with more generous social benefits, are taken into account.
Macron's office revealed that France and the EU are targeting researchers in specific sectors, including health, climate, biodiversity, artificial intelligence, and space.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)
Enrichment Data (Incorporated in Article):
- Europe is making a concerted effort to lure American researchers and promote scientific advancements, led by the "Choose Europe for Science" conference in Paris on May 5, 2025.
- The European Union is ready to invest €500 million for 2025–2027 to attract researchers, with France aiming to become a global hub for scientific research.
- The initiative prioritizes researchers working in specific sectors, such as health, climate, biodiversity, artificial intelligence, and space.
- Aix Marseille University saw a surge in applications to its "Safe Place for Science" program, after announcing it would welcome US researchers facing cuts earlier in March.
- CNRS, France's leading research organization, has launched a program to attract foreign researchers under threat and French researchers working abroad who are unwilling to remain in Trump's US.
- The overall strategy aims to position Europe as a strategic alternative while advancing continental scientific priorities and upholding academic freedoms.
- While the EU offers competitive infrastructure and quality of life, research funding and researcher compensation lag significantly behind US levels. However, this is expected to become less pronounced once factors like lower education and healthcare costs, and more generous social benefits, are taken into account.
- Emmanuel Macron, the French President, and Ursula von der Leyen, the EU Commission President, are hosting a conference called "Choose Europe for Science."
- The conference will take place at the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris.
- The aim of the conference is to encourage disgruntled American researchers to move to Europe.
- EU commissioners, scientists, and research ministers from member countries will attend the conference.
- Discussions will revolve around financial incentives to attract disillusioned scientists from the United States.
- Ursula von der Leyen announced an EU budget package worth millions to attract researchers.
- Von der Leyen stated that EU will put forward a new €500 million package for 2025-2027.
- Von der Leyen believes that this investment will make Europe a magnet for researchers.
- Macron urged researchers to come to Europe if they love freedom.
- Macron criticized the Trump administration's US science policy as a "diktat" and an "error."
- American universities and research institutions have faced increasing political and financial pressures under the Trump administration.
- Research programs are on the brink of closure, tens of thousands of federal workers have lost their jobs, and foreign students live in fear of possible deportation.
- The European Union sees this as an opportunity to offer an appealing alternative for researchers.
- France, in particular, has been actively courting foreign researchers.
- Aix Marseille University reported a flood of applicants for its "Safe Place for Science" program.
- CNRS, France's flagship scientific research center, launched a new initiative to attract foreign researchers.
- The initiative prioritizes researchers working in specific sectors, including health, climate, biodiversity, artificial intelligence, and space.
- While EU countries offer competitive infrastructure and a high quality of life, research funding and researchers' remuneration lag significantly behind US levels.
- Experts expect the pay disparity to appear less significant once the lower cost of education and health, along with more generous social benefits, are taken into account.
- Macron's office revealed that France and the EU are targeting researchers in specific sectors.
- The overall strategy aims to position Europe as a strategic alternative while advancing continental scientific priorities and upholding academic freedoms.
- Technology will play a significant role in the European Union's effort to attract researchers.
- Artificial Intelligence is one of the targeted sectors for attracting foreign researchers.
- The EU's investment in technology and science will help in addressing global challenges like climate change, environmental science, and weather forecasting.
- In the health sector, EU is focusing on developing therapies and treatments, workplace-wellness, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and sports.
- The EU's investment in science and technology will also benefit sectors like finance, industry, personal finance, banking and insurance, data and cloud computing, and sustainable living.
- Europe aims to become a global leader in space and astronomy, lifestyle, food-and-drink, education-and-self-development, personal-growth, shopping, career-development, sports, and relationships, as part of its strategy to attract researchers.
