Europe seeks to attract American scientists amid funding cuts in US - Politico
A group of European countries is developing a plan to attract US scientists, who may be affected by cuts to education and research funding by the US government.
This is reported by Politico.
In a letter to the European Commission, seen by Politico, twelve governments said that the EU should become more attractive to international scientists, who may face pressure or financial constraints.
The document is addressed to European Commissioner for Research and Innovation Kateryna Zakharyeva and signed by representatives of France, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Spain, Slovenia, Germany, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania.
"It is urgent ... to organize ourselves to receive the talents who want or have to leave the United States," French Research Minister Philippe Baptiste said in a comment to the publication.
Although the letter does not mention the US, its content contains obvious hints. "The current international context reminds us that scientific freedom can be under threat anywhere," the appeal says.
Since the beginning of Donald Trump's presidency, funding for science and education in the United States has been significantly reduced, including in the Department of Education and a number of leading universities, such as Johns Hopkins.
Measures to attract scientists
The letter proposes several initiatives, including:
- additional funding for scientists,
- changes in immigration policy,
- expansion of international scientific partnerships.
European countries are calling on the EU to organize a meeting of research ministers to develop an appropriate plan.
Earlier, European universities have already begun to attract American scientists: the Free University of Brussels announced vacancies for researchers from the United States, and the University of Aix-Marseille in France launched a support program for scientists who feel threatened at home.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the United States is officially canceling 83% of the USAID programs.