New ‘super grant’ aims to lure Americans to the EU

Not just individual member states are vying for top American scientists, but the European Commission is also welcoming ‘refugees’ from the US. With 500 million euros and a commitment to academic freedom, the EU seeks to attract foreign talent.

Commission president Ursula von der Leyen presented a new initiative on Monday at the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris: ‘Choose Europe for Science’. Neither America nor Trump was mentioned, but their presence was felt throughout.

Europe can offer top scientists a good life with accessible education and excellent healthcare, said Von der Leyen. However, she particularly aims to entice American researchers with additional funding and a firmly grounded academic freedom. They must be able to conduct their research without government interference.

Academic freedom

The EU is increasingly emphasising the importance of this freedom now that Trump is undermining academic freedom in his own country. The EU intends to enshrine this research freedom in a new law, Von der Leyen announced. Details on this are still lacking.

The EU president is also allocating extra funds to make the EU a ‘magnet’ for researchers. Up until 2027, the Commission is making 500 million euros available for scientific research. Officially, this is intended for scientists within and outside the EU, but here too the ambition to attract Americans lies just beneath the surface.

Super grant

Among European countries, France has particularly embraced this sentiment quickly. Earlier in March, the University of Marseille created a ‘safe space’ for American scientists. Last Monday, President Macron built on this initiative by announcing an investment of 100 million in high-tech research, hoping to attract foreign talent. “If you love freedom, you should come to Europe and do research here”, he said.

In the Netherlands, the budget is lower. Here, Education Minister Eppo Bruins has promised 25 million euros, spread over several years. NWO is still seeking additional funds to increase this amount.