According to EU President Ursula von der Leyen, Europe is committed to research freedom, mega-grants and global cooperation.
At the “Choose Europe for Science” conference held at the Sorbonne in Paris on Monday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a two-year, €500 million aid package aimed at attracting top American researchers to Europe. The initiative was announced against the backdrop of deep cuts in federal funding for basic research in the United States under the Trump administration, which have limited support for leading universities. By doubling immigration grants under the European Research Foundation’s seven-year “super grants” and expanding the Marie Skłodowska-Curie early-career fellowships, Europe aims to become the top destination for researchers seeking scientific freedom. “If you love freedom, come and help us stay free,” Macron exclaimed, stressing the importance of increasing investment in research to 3% of GDP by 2030.
The operational details of the new funding program are currently being formulated by the Scientific Council and will be published soon.
The new grants will operate according to the same principles of scientific excellence as other ERC grants: selection will be based solely on scientific excellence, the program will include all fields of research, and is open to any researcher from all countries of the world who is engaged in research or is willing to move to a host institution in a member state of the European Union or a country associated with the Horizon Europe funding framework.
"In addition, last month the Scientific Council decided to double the budget for research recruitment grants in Europe. Until now, researchers employed in the United States or anywhere else in the world could apply for an additional grant of up to one million euros in addition to the normal maximum grant, to set up a laboratory or research team. Starting in May, this maximum will be an additional two million euros, as President von der Leyen noted in her speech on May 5.
More from von der Leyen: "As Marie Slobodowska-Curie proved in her groundbreaking career, only in choices for research freedom and openness to innovation can the key to meeting the challenges of the future be found. Europe, with a rich scientific history, top-notch research infrastructure and a Horizon Europe budget of €93 billion, will continue to lead in basic research and key technologies – from AI to quantum, from biotechnology to space.
"Today we are announcing the Choose Europe initiative, which will provide long-term super grants, increase incentives for young researchers and remove regulatory barriers to jumpstarting innovation. I invite researchers from all over the world to choose Europe as their scientific home – because only together, in freedom, openness and cooperation, can we build a shared and prosperous future."
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