TLDR : The "Choose Europe for Science" conference took place at the Sorbonne, where President Emmanuel Macron announced a 100 million euro investment to attract foreign researchers to France. He emphasized the importance of scientific freedom and condemned political interference, reaffirming the EU's commitment to the independence and integrity of research.
As announced during the launch last April of the "Choose France for Science" platform, aimed at enabling French research institutions to assess the relevance of projects by foreign researchers wishing to settle in France, the "Choose Europe for Science" conference took place yesterday at the Sorbonne in the presence of Emmanuel Macron and the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen. The President of the Republic announced an investment of 100 million euros as part of France 2030 to allow these scientists to continue their research on the old continent.
For Emmanuel Macron, a free and open science is a moral and human imperative. In his closing speech, he warned against any form of political interference in research directions.
Alluding to the policies of the Trump administration—budget cuts in research, elimination of grants, restriction of the use of certain terms related to inclusion or climate change, the Head of State asserted that the European Union firmly opposes "a dictate that would consist in saying that a government, whoever it is, could say: it is forbidden to research this or that, and that it would be forbidden to research women's health, that it would be forbidden to research cyclones..."
He denounced a deep break with the scientific history of great democracies:
"No one could have imagined, a few years ago, that one of the world's greatest democracies would cut research programs on the pretext that there was the word 'diversity' in this program. No one could have thought that one of the world's greatest democracies would strike out the ability to have visas of this or that researcher, sometimes those who had contributed to its own digital security. No one could have thought that this very great democracy of the world, whose economic model rests so strongly on free science, on innovation, and on its ability, moreover, over the past three decades, to have innovated more than the Europeans and to have spread this innovation more, that they would make such a mistake. But here we are."
For him, the independence and integrity of scientific research are essential pillars of our democracies. "Choose Europe for Science" also aims to be a relay for the "Stand Up for Science" movement, initiated by American researchers worried about these political drifts, which has received active support from many European institutions.
In France, several players quickly took a stand. The CNRS launched the "Choose CNRS" program to facilitate the hosting of threatened researchers, while Aix-Marseille University opened a dedicated facility, "Safe Place for Science". The Pasteur Institute and the University of Montpellier also expressed their desire to contribute to this mobilization. Hundreds of scientists are now ready to settle in France, although salaries there are lower than in the United States.
To French researchers, also worried about budget cuts in our country, he assured:
"And I say it strongly, a foreign researcher will not replace a French or European researcher. It is the very spirit of science to seek this cooperation, this emulation, this conversation. That is why it will be a specific funding that is thus deployed and announced today."
500 Million Euros from the EU to Enhance the Continent's Attractiveness
For its part, the European Union intends to assert its role as a scientific motor. Moments before Emmanuel Macron's intervention, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced a package of 500 million euros for the 2025-2027 period, aimed at making Europe a genuine "attractive hub for researchers". Emphasizing the stability of European investments and the quality of infrastructures, she insisted on the need to fill the current gaps in the European scientific landscape. Among the announced measures are the creation of a seven-year "super-grant", doubling the research grant supplements by 2027, and a shared goal with member states: to raise research and development spending to 3% of GDP by 2030.
In a desire to sustainably anchor this positioning, the Commission wishes to enshrine the freedom of scientific research in European law, through a future legislative act dedicated to the European Research Area.
To better understand
What does embedding the freedom of scientific research in European law entail?
Embedding the freedom of scientific research in European law means creating a legal framework that protects researchers' independence in the EU and prevents political interference. It aims to ensure that research is guided by scientific curiosity and societal needs, rather than political or economic changes.
How can the seven-year 'super-grant' proposed by the EU transform the European scientific landscape?
The seven-year 'super-grant' proposed by the EU aims to provide sustainable and sufficient funding for ambitious research projects, fostering innovation and long-term collaboration. It could enable Europe to catch up in research and development compared to other regions, by attracting global talent and stabilizing scientific investment.