On May 5, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a ceremony at the Sorbonne aimed at welcoming researchers from around the world, particularly those affected by recent budget cuts in the United States. This initiative, dubbed "Choose Europe for Science," comes at a time when many American researchers face significant challenges due to the policies of the Trump administration, which has proposed drastic cuts to federal research funding.
During the event, Macron announced that the European Union would allocate 500 million euros over the next two years to attract scientists who are currently facing adversity in their home country. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, joined Macron in emphasizing the importance of academic freedom and the need for Europe to become a sanctuary for researchers fleeing oppressive conditions.
"Nobody could think that this great democracy of the world would make such a mistake," Macron stated, referring to the cuts in research funding that have led to the layoffs of thousands of researchers and the suspension of numerous research projects in the U.S. According to reports, agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have all seen significant reductions in their budgets.
The Intersyndicale ESR, a French union representing higher education and research workers, has raised concerns over Macron's sudden interest in attracting international researchers while his government has been accused of undermining the academic sector in France. They argue that since 2017, Macron's policies have led to a 3.1% decrease in tenured teaching staff, an increase in contract positions by 18.5%, and a troubling decline in the percentage of national wealth devoted to research—from 2.25% to 2.22%. In contrast, the United States allocates 3.47% of its wealth to research.
In February 2024, France experienced severe cuts in the budgets for higher education and research, totaling 600 million euros, followed by an additional 950 million euros in 2025, which included nearly 500 million euros specifically for education and research. These reductions have raised alarms among educators and researchers, who feel that the government's priorities are misaligned with the needs of the academic community.
Macron's announcement of the "Choose France for Science" platform has been met with skepticism. Critics argue that while the government is offering over 300,000 euros per year for each American researcher welcomed to France, the average salary for a teacher-researcher in France is just 63,000 euros gross annually. Additionally, many temporary teaching staff, known as ATERs, receive wages that barely exceed the minimum wage, and there are reports of delayed payments for 170,000 temporary workers.
The purchasing power of public sector employees has also dropped by 27% since 2000, contributing to a growing sense of insecurity among those working in higher education and research. This precarious situation is compounded by ongoing allegations of attacks on academic freedom, including disciplinary actions against researchers who have expressed solidarity with political movements, such as those supporting the Palestinian cause.
In light of these circumstances, the Intersyndicale ESR asserts that it is crucial to defend the freedom of knowledge production and dissemination as a common good and a factor for social progress. They emphasize the importance of solidarity with the global research community, particularly in light of the oppressive conditions faced by many researchers worldwide.
As Macron and von der Leyen strive to position Europe as a refuge for academic freedom, they face the challenge of addressing the underlying issues within their own educational systems. The EU's commitment to reaching 3% of GDP for research and development investment by 2030 is ambitious, yet many in the field believe that the current funding levels are insufficient to meet the needs of researchers.
In a statement, Boris Gralak, head of the National Scientific Research Union, pointed out that France is currently short 25 billion euros in research and development funding, with 8 billion euros needed for public research alone. He described the announced 100 million euros from France as "symbolic and very insufficient" compared to the scale of the challenges faced.
As the academic landscape continues to shift, the question remains: can France and Europe truly attract the world's top scientists while grappling with their own internal challenges? The stakes are high, not only for the researchers seeking refuge but also for the future of scientific advancement in Europe.
With the world watching, the upcoming years will be critical in determining whether Europe can capitalize on the turmoil in the U.S. and emerge as a leader in fostering a vibrant and inclusive scientific community.
