Europe drives to attract scientists after Trump freezes US fundingAt the “Choose Europe for Science” event in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron offered researchers grants and new policy plans if they move to Europe.
French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen arrive at the "Choose Europe for Science" conference
French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen arrive Monday at the "Choose Europe for Science" conference. Gonzalo Fuentes / AFP - Getty ImagesThe Associated Press
By The Associated Press
The European Union launched a drive on Monday to attract scientists and researchers to Europe with offers of grants and new policy plans, after the Trump administration froze U.S. government funding linked to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
“A few years ago, no one would have imagined that one of the biggest democracies in the world would cancel research programs under the pretext that the word diversity was in this program,” French President Emmanuel Macron said at the “Choose Europe for Science” event in Paris.
“No one would have thought that one of the biggest democracies in the world would delete with a stroke the ability of one researcher or another to obtain visas,” Macron said. “But here we are.”
Taking the same stage at the Sorbonne University, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU’s executive branch would set up a “super grant” program aimed at offering “a longer-term perspective to the very best” in the field.
She said that 500 million euros ($566 million) will be put forward in 2025-2027 “to make Europe a magnet for researchers.” It would be injected into the European Research Council, which already has a budget of more than 16 billion euros ($18 billion) for 2021-2027.
Von der Leyen said that the 27-nation EU intends “to enshrine freedom of scientific research into law” with a new legal act. As “the threats rise across the world, Europe will not compromise on its principles....