In April, the French National Research Agency, which is part of the Education Ministry, announced an initiative to attract scientists from abroad called “Choose France for Science.” The initiative aims to open up more government funding for universities, schools, and research organizations to entice foreign talent.
The announcement came after the Trump administration said it planned to make major cuts to federal research funding at the National Institute of Health, as well as other agencies and universities.
While some of those cuts have been made, others have been restored by court order. The confusion, however, presented an opportunity for France and others, as both US-born scientists and foreign-born scientists working in the US began to look elsewhere.
“As the international context creates the conditions for an unprecedented wave of mobility among researchers around the world, France aims to position itself as a host country for those wishing to continue their work in Europe, drawing on the country’s research ecosystem and infrastructure,” the French National Research Agency said in a statement.
In a following LinkedIn post, French President Emmanuel Macron said that research is a “priority.”
“Researchers from around the world, choose France, choose Europe!” he wrote.
