EU tells US scientists to dump Trump for a lab in Europe
- Reference: 1746548947
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/05/06/eu_us_science_scheme/
- Source link:
At an event at Sorbonne University, EC President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled the " [1]Choose Europe " scheme to promote the region as a world-leading center of research, innovation, and scientific freedom.
In a speech, she outlined financial incentives to draw scientific talent, including a €500 million ($566 million) package for 2025-2027 to make Europe "a magnet for researchers."
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"I am convinced that science remains the fuel of progress and growth for our societies. Without the ideas and breakthroughs that come from scientific research, progress sooner or later stagnates," Von der Leyen stated.
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[4]
"Unfortunately, as your discussions have shown today, the role of science in today's world is questioned. The investment in fundamental, free, and open research is questioned. What a gigantic miscalculation. I believe that science holds the key to our future here in Europe. Without it, we simply cannot address today's global challenges – from health to new tech, from climate to oceans."
The EC President didn't identify any particular culprit for undermining free and open research, but her comments come in the wake of the Trump administration making a number of [5]cuts to scientific funding in the US, including to the [6]NASA budget and the [7]National Science Foundation , and specifically targeting [8]diversity and equality efforts.
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It also follows an earlier move by [10]Aix-Marseille University in the south of France , which announced its Safe Place For Science program in March. This offered a "safe and stimulating environment" for researchers wishing to pursue their work free of persecution, and was explicitly pitched at American scientists who might be feeling unloved by their current government.
That invitation wasn't a free-for-all. Offers were dependent on the candidate's profile and only provide employment contracts and research budgets for up to three years. The Europe-wide offer will also likely require relevant qualifications.
Europe has everything that is needed for science to thrive, Von der Leyen said. There is stable and sustained investment, infrastructure, a commitment to open and collaborative science, plus access to quality education and healthcare.
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She acknowledged there are areas where the EU needs to do better, with researchers often facing a mass of complex bureaucracy compared to some other parts of the world, for example, but said the Commission is ready to tackle this issue head-on.
"We want Europe to continue to be at the forefront of fundamental research. We want Europe to be a leader in priority technologies from AI to quantum, from space, semiconductors, and microelectronics to digital health, genomics, and biotechnology. We want scientists, researchers, academics, and highly skilled workers to choose Europe," she said.
[12]Trump wants to fire quarter of NASA budget into black hole – and not in a good way
[13]America's National Science Foundation tells DEI, misinfo studies: You're fired
[14]US senator warns 'China is cheering' for proposed NASA budget cuts
[15]France offers US scientists a safe haven from Trump's war on woke
The top priority is to ensure that science in Europe remains open and free, the EC president said, hinting that freedom of scientific research could be enshrined by law in a new European Research Area Act.
The second element of Choose Europe is financing, and as well as the €500 million package for 2025-2027, the Commission aims to create a seven-year "super grant" under the European Research Council (ERC) to help offer longer-term support for the brightest boffins from around the world.
"We now want to support public and private institutions to better link up to highly skilled workers and researchers, and to speed up and simplify the entry for top researchers. Because bringing the best from across the world is about bringing out the best of Europe," she stated.
According to Von der Leyen, the EC wants to see member states reach a target of 3 percent of GDP for investment in research and development by 2030, and said it is preparing ambitious proposals on funding for the next long-term budget.
She also mentioned in her speech a European Innovation Act and a Startup and Scaleup Strategy, to help minimize regulatory and other barriers, and make it easier for European startups to get access to venture capital.
According to the [16]Associated Press , White House spokesperson Anna Kelly responded to the EU announcement by saying: "America will continue to attract and cultivate the best talent in science, research, and beyond."
However, a poll of more than 1,200 US scientists by scientific journal Nature at the end of March found that [17]three-quarters were considering leaving the country because of Trump, with Europe and Canada the top choices for relocation. ®
Get our [18]Tech Resources
[1] https://commission.europa.eu/topics/research-and-innovation/choose-europe_en
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aBqGfvzqMKv2VkZm9X28ZAAAAcw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aBqGfvzqMKv2VkZm9X28ZAAAAcw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aBqGfvzqMKv2VkZm9X28ZAAAAcw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/25/us_funding_science_cuts_lawsuit/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/02/nasa_funding_slashed/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/21/nsf_staff_cut/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/21/nsf_cancel_awards_dei/
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aBqGfvzqMKv2VkZm9X28ZAAAAcw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/14/france_us_science_offer/
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aBqGfvzqMKv2VkZm9X28ZAAAAcw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/02/nasa_funding_slashed/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/21/nsf_cancel_awards_dei/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/15/nasa_cuts_protest/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/14/france_us_science_offer/
[16] https://apnews.com/article/europe-us-science-funding-researchers-6a769e6d40c5127d59797e44a2470cfe
[17] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00938-y
[18] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Europeanuts
Seeing as it's not the EU's purview, I don't think the money really matters. But your point stands that, in comparison with the US, most European countries invest little in the kind of large research projects that have made America so popular since the 1950s: we have great general and university education but life as a post-grad is the for chosen few with most researchers forced to scrape from one temporary contract to the next with tenure always out of reach.
Re: Europeanuts (InB4 political bashing begins - oops, too late)
According to research on grok, a large number of the "disgruntled scientists" responding to the Nature magazine poll are probably POST-GRADUATE STUDENTS. But as the article is behind a paywall it's hard to search it or read it without coughing up the cash [damn them].
Here's what I found: [1]https://x.com/i/grok/share/M3UkPNZ4VCkRecPw3IwtPQe6F
The issue here is public funds for research, and the kinds of research being axed. From what I can glean, it is mostly climate change research, sociology and DEI-related research, certain kinds of health research (fired NIH researchers), plus anything previously funded by USAID, and primarily affects new graduates and post-grad researchers.
In short, if your only funders were the U.S. gummint before 2025, and the funds were cut off, and you read Nature magazine and responded to the poll (a 'self-selected' group) then it explains why 3/4 of respondents wanted to "go elsewhere" after losing their gummint funds.
[if this offer affects a LOT of people, competing for the limited funds from EU will be fierce]
[1] https://x.com/i/grok/share/M3UkPNZ4VCkRecPw3IwtPQe6F
Re: Europeanuts (InB4 political bashing begins - oops, too late)
You think that 'Grok' is a reliable source of information?
Don't forget the non-monetary advantages
In Europe we have no government, that
- suppresses facts that do not fit their ideology
- actively tries to destroy science in general
- requires allegiance to its Dear Leader to get a job
- goes after you or your family for your inheritance or nationailty
- goes after you for speaking your mind
- lets idiots decide policy, just because they kiss their Dear Leader's ass on a daily basis
Additionally in Europe's science operations, €500M is a much larger volume in terms of research positions compared to $500M in the U.S.
Re: Don't forget the non-monetary advantages
I mostly agree, but hold your horses.
"- suppresses facts that do not fit their ideology"
Forgotten covid and the suppression of any alternative views? I haven't. You must only speak this way or it is "fake news". The science went out the window.
Re: Don't forget the non-monetary advantages
"Forgotten Covid and the suppression of any alternative views?"
I see you didn't follow Alison Pearson or Toby Young in the Daily Telegraph. They appeared free to make up stuff and/or too stupid to even question it. No apology when proven completely wrong. That may have cost lives. But, hey they have the right as non-experts to rubbish experts.
I don't question that we shouldn't give them freedom to speak their misinformed minds. I do question your assertion they didn't.
Re: Don't forget the non-monetary advantages
>> we shouldn't give them freedom to speak their misinformed minds
Exactly my point. But yours is from the other direction. You are stating exactly what I wrote: as long as you follow the "authorised" view, such as yours, it's OK.
Numbskulls exist. The correct response it to counter them, not ban them.
I suggest taking a look at Dr Campbell John on YouTube, and how daintily he has to dance around the truth.
Re: Don't forget the non-monetary advantages
Oh dear, back to YouTube as a source of research?
You might want to check that Dr's soundness:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Campbell_(YouTuber)#Ivermectin
If that is not enough, then "...in December 2024 shared his faith and belief in Creationism in an interview with Russell Brand".
Re: Don't forget the non-monetary advantages
Lol. Wikipedia.
You better wake your ass up.
Re: Don't forget the non-monetary advantages
Lol
Have you asked Elon for his "donation" yet?
Re: Don't forget the non-monetary advantages
That may be true, but simply "not being the USA" is not a recipe for improving economic growth rates, or improving European technological independence.
All that Agent Orange has done is created a window of opportunity for other countries or blocs to seize the moment. The Draghi report showed how badly Europe was lagging, and still there's not much sign of speedy, united, and effective policy responses to the challenges Draghi found.
Re: Don't forget the non-monetary advantages
>> simply "not being the USA"
This is the crux of Europe's problem. By slavishly following American policy, it has turned itself into a footrest. It is not that Europe cannot invent things - it can. But take the example of ASML. It bowed down to the USA to its detriment. What did it get in return? Sweet FA.
Meanwhile China is not playing the "we are not the USA" card. It is playing the "we are China" card, and it can deliver.
Europe could very easily chip away at parts of American dominance over technology. But it won't. I've been reading between the lines the responses to the tariffs all over Europe. They have a few things in common: it's not fair; we will fight hard to overturn them; it will be part of our trade negotiations. In other words, a load of limp wrist hand wringing. China's response: we will build our own.
Europe is going to be crushed. We are in the midst of a battle between two major powers. Europe is expendable to the USA. It's time it woke up.
Re: Don't forget the non-monetary advantages
Sorry, but Hungarian academics will disagree with you there, as will Georgian and Moldovan academics. Yes, the latter two countries are part of Europe, albeit not the EU.
"America will continue to attract and cultivate the best talent in science, research, and beyond." Well, I suppose it's true, none of us will be repealing the law of gravity. So yes, it will continue to attract them, of course.
American gravity
It's beautiful. The sweetest gravity in the world. And it's gonna make us rich.
Universal Healthcare
not constantly beeing afraid to get shot, anywhere.
If you have kids: They don't need a bullet proof backpack.
The cops in Europa not there "to get ya!".
If you are black you will enjoy the "invisibility", you won't feel under constant surveillence by "the authorities".
Cost of living is cheaper. You need half, quite often even only a third of the annual amount of money just for living.
Education ist (mostly) free, and when it is not free the costs are laughable.
20 to 30 days actual paid vacation. You are expected to be UNreachable when you are on vacation, the people and bosses respect that.
You are not expected to do overtime by default.
If you come to Europe you will see that this way of living will increase your efficiency. You manage to achieve more in less time.
As for above list: I did not make it, American who live in Europe make it. Tony of youtube channels out there say the same: Came here didn't regret, never want to return.
Hints they give: Don't try to get your household and car over. Too expensive, and as far as the car goes, many many US-brand cars are not legal in Europe for safety issues. There are specialized car-shops in each country to fix up your car to get it legal, but that might be expensive.
Special hint for Germany: Get your driver license the German way. If you are not experienced driving here, you are in for several shocks when it comes to "sticking to the rules". From my point of view we have too many which don't, but every American living here says "they stick to the rules, the traffic lights, the right lane rule. And if you forget the right lane rule for even a second, you will have a BMW at one inch distance at your rear bumper. Literally one second..." And hefty fines. Also watch the "Tom Hanks on German Autobahn" video :D - especially the part how it sounds to be overtaken be someone else.
Re: Universal Healthcare
I see that somebody has voted you down. Not me. It is probably an obese somebody who is begging to be made bankrupt by medical bills. But at least he has his guns to play with.
Re: Universal Healthcare
Three downvotes is the norm now. You could always count on one, but three is the new standard.
Re: Universal Healthcare
Yep, the hate-followers have so much energy - if only we could harvest that wo wouldn't even need solar!
Exodus
The flight is well under way. The first wave will not be the US scientists (they may "consider", but will dither too long), but the many foreigners that the US institutions attracted with their ample funding and career opportunities. With funding withdrawn and not even a Green Card making you safe from deportation on spurious grounds, they are looking for safer pastures.
Working in UK academia, us incumbents are less pleased. While we support our colleagues in their plight, the situation isn't that rosy here either. The job market is already competitive, many positions are precarious (the postdoc stage extends ever longer into midlife) and academic salaries have gone down massively in real terms. Particularly in Blighty, the financial situation of universities is also deteriorating, and the government washes its hands off the situation. I wouldn't be surprised if many of those newly funded positions in the EU (if they really appear, and are not the usual re-badging of existing jobs) would be filled by immigrants from closer to home.
Obvious icon...
Re: Exodus
Well, in the UK we cut off our nose to spite our face, and everyone believed the Tories when they promised that British science and academia would still be richly rewarded post-Brexit. Well guess what, we didn't, did we? And then the immigration policies that the Tories so gleefully tightened up made it virtually impossible to get academics and scientists that have *gasp* *shock* *horror* a FAMILY! So... yeah, UK science and academia is in a funk, and slowly but inexorably moving towards the abyss.
And no, just because "in the thirties and forties we did wonders with pennies in our pockets" it does not mean that we'll be able to do that again, or *want* to for that matter. People would like a decent wage for their work and their efforts, not living in a single room in "Mrs Doubtfire's Boarding House" or whatnot.
The EU at least knows that they can score big by not only rescuing data (which they have been doing and continue to do), but by also offering science in the US a way out of the shit hole that Cheeto Trumpet is creating.
Re: Exodus
the TDS is strong with this one...
Re: Exodus
More Trump Dick Sucking. Can you people just stop for a moment. Poor Donald must be running on empty.
I think you’ll find…
It’s a world leading CENTRE for research.
You US boffins will have to brush up your spelling if you come over here (hint: don’t take notice of the Reg - they forgot how to spell a couple of years ago)
Re: I think you’ll find…
humo[u]r appreciated
Re: I think you’ll find…
"It’s a world leading CENTRE for research"
Or Centro
Or Senter
Or Center
Or.....
Europeanuts
The second element of Choose Europe is financing, and as well as the €500 million package for 2025-2027.
Wow. They'll be beating down the doors for that pittance.