EU to double funding to attract US scientists fleeing Trump

An idea is circulating in the offices of some renowned politicians and scientists: Europe has a historic opportunity to reverse what happened almost a century ago with the rise of Nazism. Just as some of the greatest minds of the 20th century left Europe for the United States, fleeing Hitler and World War II, there may now be a reverse tide of researchers leaving Trump’s United States and settling in the European Union.

This scenario “represents an opportunity for Europe,” European Commission sources told EL PAÍS. The EU executive has confirmed it is receiving requests from parliamentarians, member states, and companies to strengthen its programs to attract talent fleeing the United States due to the cuts, uncertainty, and paralysis in scientific research imposed by the new White House administration. “We are analyzing these proposals and exploring ways to expand our immediate actions,” the Commission added. Brussels is planning a meeting of European ministers to coordinate a common response in this regard.

On Wednesday, 10 countries wrote to the European Commissioner for Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zakharieva, demanding more funding and facilities to attract emigrating talent. The petition, to which this newspaper had access, was led by France, which sees “scientific freedom” as a European standard to attract the U.S. scientists most affected by the Trump administration, which has gutted diversity and minority inclusion programs. France has issued a public appeal to researchers wishing to settle in the country. Its research minister, Philippe Baptiste, also confirmed the detention and expulsion of a French researcher from the United States, allegedly because border agents found messages on his cell phone criticizing Trump’s policies.

The European Commission is also attacking the flank of freedom and inclusion. “The European way of life prioritizes health, family, and social security policies, with inclusive neighborhoods and vibrant communities. The EU offers a high quality of life, with a generous healthcare system, a strong emphasis on work-life balance, and a rich cultural scene,” the same sources explain.

The big question is how much money Europe is willing to spend on recruiting top scientists, especially when the budget priority is to allocate €800 billion ($865 billion) to defense. Researcher salaries in the United States are significantly higher than in many European countries, and the annual U.S. investment in research, development, and innovation — precisely some $865 billion — is more than double that of the entire European Union.

€1 million to €2 million for principal investigators

Pending negotiations in the coming weeks, the Commission is putting forward some measures. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has asked the European Research Council (ERC) to increase funding from €1 million to €2 million ($1.08-$2.16 million) for principal investigators moving to the EU, starting with the call for advanced grants opening in May 2025. She has also requested the same budget increase for principal investigators moving to the EU under the 2026 and 2027 work programs. With a budget of €20 million, the ERC could fund 20 of these positions starting in 2026 and continuing into 2027, they note. There is also a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions pilot initiative that will provide early-stage researchers with a pathway to permanent positions. In 2027, the ERA Chairs program, which aims to attract high-level scientists, will expand by €170 million ($184 million), creating approximately 80 permanent positions to attract scientists and innovators to form their own teams within the EU.

All this movement comes at a critical time for science, research, and higher education in the United States. One of the most painful measures of the Trump administration has been to cut the budget of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This state agency is a giant that dedicates some $43 billion to biomedical research each year, making it the largest public research organization in the world. The cuts and project freezes imposed by the Trump administration have put many fundamental research projects on hold and threaten to leave the country’s universities without an essential source of funding for their operations. A Massachusetts judge has halted these cuts while she decides whether they are legal. If they finally materialize, it could lead to a considerable increase in university tuition, which already reaches exorbitant prices compared to Europe, and a further factor in inequality in access to higher education.

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