The European Union on Monday unveiled a major initiative to draw leading scientists and scholars to Europe, pitching itself as a bastion of research freedom and diversity in contrast to recent U.S. policy shifts under President Donald Trump.
Speaking at the “Choose Europe for Science” conference at Paris’s Sorbonne University, French President Emmanuel Macron lamented the U.S. decision to axe thousands of National Science Foundation grants tied to diversity, equity, inclusion and misinformation research. “A few years ago, no one could have imagined a leading democracy cancelling research programmes simply because the word ‘diversity’ was in the title,” Macron said. “Yet here we are.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a €500 million top‑up for the European Research Council (ERC) over 2025–27 to establish what she called a “super grant” scheme, offering multi‑year funding packages to outstanding researchers worldwide. The ERC’s existing 2021–27 budget already exceeds €16 billion.
Von der Leyen emphasised that the EU plans to enshrine the freedom of scientific inquiry in law through a new governing act, underpinning Europe’s commitment to open research even amid geopolitical tensions. “Science knows no passport, no gender, no ethnicity, no political party,” she asserted. “We view diversity as humanity’s asset and the lifeblood of science a global treasure we must safeguard.”
Macron added that France would shortly propose its own measures to boost investment in research and innovation. Both leaders framed the EU drive as a direct response to U.S. restrictions on programmes exploring environmental justice, internet censorship, Indigenous studies and other fields now deemed off‑limits under Washington’s latest executive orders.
Von der Leyen described those U.S. cuts as “a gigantic miscalculation” that undermines the global research enterprise. She also pledged to tackle bureaucratic hurdles within Europe cutting red tape and improving industry link‑ups to make the continent more welcoming to international talent.
Macron concluded by inviting researchers feeling “under threat” elsewhere to relocate to Europe: “If you value freedom, come help us preserve it here, to research with us, to invest in our future.” The EU’s new super grants and accompanying reforms are scheduled to be formally proposed this summer and will require approval by the European Parliament and member states.
