"Emphasizing Europe's Commitment to Science: Highlighting our capacity to fund research without constraints"
Roll out the red carpet for science: France's aggressive approach to lure international researchers
France is stepping up its game to entice foreign researchers, especially from the US, amid tightening research budgets and the tumultuous political climate under the Trump administration. Didier Samuel, President-Director General of Inserm, outspokenly declared this during the conference "Choose Europe for Science" in Paris on May 5th.
Already, there are foreign researchers in French laboratories, Samuel acknowledges. But the Inserm CEO insists that more needs to be done, given the increasing applications from American researchers seeking refuge from European laboratories.
"The US is the land of research," Samuel admitted, "but what's happening there is unprecedented. I call it a blitzkrieg, a swift war against research, particularly medical research." According to Samuel, in certain sectors in the US, there's an excessive degree of control over research, with words like "gender," "climate," "climate change," "vaccine," and "infectious diseases" under attack, and researchers who use them at risk of termination.
To finance the influx of foreign researchers, France recognizes it won't be competing with the US budget-wise. However, Samuel argues that Europe can. This necessitates both French and European action, with France aiming to secure a strong position within the European arena.
Samuel posit that this investment will not go to waste. In today's budget-strapped context in France, he argue that choosing science and research equates to bolstering France's competitiveness, national sovereignty, and status as a European leader. After all, as Samuel points out, "there can be no medical progress, and even no progress at all, without research upfront."
President Macron and EU Commission President von der Leyen are co-hosting the "Choose Europe for Science" conference at the Sorbonne in Paris on Monday to entice American researchers. Expectations are high that Macron will make announcements, including financial incentives.
Supporting the initiative, France's national research agency, CNRS, already has an initiative in the pipeline for foreign researchers whose work is under threat. Aix-Marseille University has even launched a €15 million program, "Safe Place for Science," to offer structured support for researchers in priority fields like health, climate, and social sciences, attracting a surge of applicants.
Financial incentives might include government grants covering up to 50% of selected research project costs, supplemented by tax incentives. The focus areas include climate science, biodiversity, AI, health, and space research. While salaries in France may be lower than US levels, the appeal lies in consistently lower education and healthcare costs, and stronger social benefits.
Ultimately, Europe is positioning itself as a haven for academic freedom, providing a counterpoint to perceived declines in research autonomy elsewhere. Non-EU countries like Switzerland and the UK are also joining the initiative, demonstrating a shared commitment to preserving the global research ecosystem.
[1] Nature[2] Le Monde[3] Science Magazine[4] Financial Times[5] La Croix
Enrichment Data:- Initiatives and Financial Incentives: The "Choose Europe for Science" Conference, CNRS Program, and Aix-Marseille University’s Safe Place for Science program are major initiatives to attract researchers. Financial incentives may include government grants and tax incentives.- Funding and Sector Focus: Priority areas include climate science, biodiversity, AI, health, and space research. Europe aims to provide a more affordable alternative through lower education/healthcare costs and stronger social benefits.- Strategic Goals: The effort aims to position Europe as a hub for academic freedom and counter political and financial pressures on research. Non-EU countries like Switzerland and the UK are also participating in the initiative.
- Despite the US being historically known as a research hub, Didier Samuel, President-Director General of Inserm, likens the current US climate towards research to a 'blitzkrieg', encouraging foreign researchers to consider tidal shifts in Europe.
- Researchers in other fields like health-and-wellness and medical-conditions may find France an appealing alternative, given Samuel's argument that choosing science and research in Europe bolsters national sovereignty and competitiveness.
- In the midst of fiscal constraints, France is offering financial incentives such as government grants and tax breaks, with a focus on sectors like climate science, biodiversity, AI, health, and space research.
- The political landscape, including business, finance, and general-news, is a key factor driving Samuel's call to action, ascontrols over words like 'gender' and 'climate change' pose risks for researchers in the US.
- Academic freedom is a shared commitment across Europe, with countries like Switzerland and the UK participating in initiatives like "Choose Europe for Science", aiming to counter declines in research autonomy elsewhere.
- In addition to government efforts, research institutions like the national research agency CNRS and Aix-Marseille University are taking steps to accommodate foreign researchers facing threats to their work, offering programs like the CNRS Program and the Aix-Marseille University’s Safe Place for Science program.
