Europe Seeks to Attract US Researchers Amid Crackdown
French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen convened a conference in Paris on Monday to attract American researchers disillusioned by the Trump administration’s policies, offering financial incentives and academic freedoms as key draws.
The event, titled "Choose Europe for Science," was held at Paris’s Sorbonne University and brought together EU commissioners, research ministers, and leading scientists to discuss strategies for positioning Europe as a global magnet for scientific talent.
€500 Million Package to Boost Research
In her keynote address, von der Leyen announced a new €500 million EU funding package for 2025-2027, aimed at making Europe a premier destination for researchers.
“Science is an investment—and we need to offer the right incentives,” she said. “We are choosing to put research and innovation, science and technology, at the heart of our economy. We are choosing to be the continent where universities are pillars of our societies and our way of life.”
She also urged EU member states to increase research and development spending to 3% of GDP by 2030.
Macron struck a more defiant tone, criticizing the Trump administration’s approach to science as a “diktat” and an “error.”
“If you love freedom, come and do your research here,” he declared. “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. We refuse a diktat where any government can say you cannot research this or that.”
U.S. Researchers Face Growing Pressure
Under Trump, U.S. universities and research institutions have faced escalating political and financial pressures, including threats of federal funding cuts, program closures, and mass layoffs. Foreign students and academics have also expressed fears over potential deportations linked to their political views.
Europe sees an opportunity to position itself as a safe haven. A senior official in Macron’s office told AFP that the initiative aims to “defend our strategic interests and promote a universalist vision.”
France has already taken steps to attract foreign talent, launching the "Choose France for Science" platform in April to facilitate researcher relocations. The country is particularly interested in recruiting experts in health, climate science, and artificial intelligence.
Challenges Remain
Despite Europe’s push, hurdles persist. The U.S. has long outpaced Europe in research investment, including through robust private-public partnerships. Salaries for academics in France also remain lower than in the U.S., though some argue that France’s lower cost of living and stronger social benefits help offset the disparity.
Germany’s incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, recently called the U.S. crackdown a “huge opportunity” for Europe. Meanwhile, French research institutions, including the CNRS and Aix-Marseille University, have rolled out programs to welcome displaced scientists.
As Macron’s office put it: “We are a space where there is freedom of research and no taboo topics.” The question now is whether Europe can translate its ambitions into a lasting scientific renaissance.