Europe Courts global scientists as U.S. research policies shift
Shreeaa Rathi | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | May 05, 2025, 20:01 IST
( Image credit : AP )
In a bold move to attract international scholars, Europe is extending an invitation to researchers worldwide, especially as U.S. funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion research dwindles. Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen have unveiled a groundbreaking initiative: a €500 million 'super grant' program aimed at empowering top-tier scientists.
As the Trump administration moves to eliminate funding for U.S. research projects involving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Europe is making a bold play to become the new global hub for scientific talent.
At the "Choose Europe for Science" conference held Monday at Sorbonne University in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled sweeping new initiatives designed to attract researchers from around the world—particularly those affected by policy changes in the United States.
“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,” Macron said in a pointed reference to recent U.S. decisions. “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. But here we are.”
In a bid to offer both refuge and opportunity, the European Union is launching what von der Leyen called a “super grant” program, allocating €500 million (approximately $566 million) between 2025 and 2027. The funding will go through the European Research Council, whose current €16 billion budget already supports a wide array of scientific initiatives.
Von der Leyen emphasized that the program aims to provide long-term support to top-tier scientists. “Europe will not compromise on its principles,” she said. “We intend to enshrine freedom of scientific research into law.”
The announcement comes amid growing unrest within the American academic community. Last month, more than 380 National Science Foundation (NSF) grants were terminated following President Trump’s executive order targeting federal support for DEI-focused research and studies of misinformation. Projects scrapped include research combating internet censorship in China and Iran and collaborations with Indigenous communities to study climate change in Alaska.
Scientists across the U.S. have protested the abrupt policy shift, describing it as a direct attack on academic freedom and inclusion. While von der Leyen refrained from naming the Trump administration, she called the defunding a “gigantic miscalculation.”
“We can all agree that science has no passport, no gender, no ethnicity, no political party,” she declared. “Diversity is an asset of humanity and the lifeblood of science. It is one of the most valuable global assets and it must be protected.”
France also plans to unveil new national investments in research, Macron announced. He argued that science must not be constrained by political ideology or selective agendas. “Science and research must not be based on the diktats of the few,” he said.
Positioning Europe as a sanctuary for those feeling stifled by their home countries, Macron concluded with an open invitation: “The message is simple. If you like freedom, come and help us to remain free—to do research here, to help us become better, to invest in our future.”
The coordinated effort marks a significant moment in global science diplomacy, with Europe seizing on an opportunity to lead in a world where scientific collaboration and inclusivity are increasingly challenged.
As global researchers look to relocate, one thing is clear: the competition for talent is heating up—and Europe is ready to welcome those seeking a freer intellectual climate.
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At the "Choose Europe for Science" conference held Monday at Sorbonne University in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled sweeping new initiatives designed to attract researchers from around the world—particularly those affected by policy changes in the United States.
“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,” Macron said in a pointed reference to recent U.S. decisions. “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. But here we are.”
In a bid to offer both refuge and opportunity, the European Union is launching what von der Leyen called a “super grant” program, allocating €500 million (approximately $566 million) between 2025 and 2027. The funding will go through the European Research Council, whose current €16 billion budget already supports a wide array of scientific initiatives.
Von der Leyen emphasized that the program aims to provide long-term support to top-tier scientists. “Europe will not compromise on its principles,” she said. “We intend to enshrine freedom of scientific research into law.”
The announcement comes amid growing unrest within the American academic community. Last month, more than 380 National Science Foundation (NSF) grants were terminated following President Trump’s executive order targeting federal support for DEI-focused research and studies of misinformation. Projects scrapped include research combating internet censorship in China and Iran and collaborations with Indigenous communities to study climate change in Alaska.
Scientists across the U.S. have protested the abrupt policy shift, describing it as a direct attack on academic freedom and inclusion. While von der Leyen refrained from naming the Trump administration, she called the defunding a “gigantic miscalculation.”
“We can all agree that science has no passport, no gender, no ethnicity, no political party,” she declared. “Diversity is an asset of humanity and the lifeblood of science. It is one of the most valuable global assets and it must be protected.”
France also plans to unveil new national investments in research, Macron announced. He argued that science must not be constrained by political ideology or selective agendas. “Science and research must not be based on the diktats of the few,” he said.
Positioning Europe as a sanctuary for those feeling stifled by their home countries, Macron concluded with an open invitation: “The message is simple. If you like freedom, come and help us to remain free—to do research here, to help us become better, to invest in our future.”
The coordinated effort marks a significant moment in global science diplomacy, with Europe seizing on an opportunity to lead in a world where scientific collaboration and inclusivity are increasingly challenged.
As global researchers look to relocate, one thing is clear: the competition for talent is heating up—and Europe is ready to welcome those seeking a freer intellectual climate.
Would you like help summarizing this article for social media or creating a newsletter snippet?