Europe Launches €500M Plan to Attract US Scientists

European leaders have launched a €500 million ($566 million) initiative, 'Choose Europe for Science,' to attract scientists—especially from the US—affected by research funding cuts and policy changes under President Donald Trump. Announced by French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Paris’s Sorbonne University, the package offers super grants, long-term contracts, and relocation support for both top-tier and early-career researchers. The initiative is a response to the Trump administration's reductions in research budgets, cancellation of diversity and inclusion projects, and increased restrictions on academic freedom. The European Research Council will administer the funds, aiming to make Europe a global research hub and enshrine academic freedom in law. European officials hope to draw disillusioned US researchers facing financial and ideological pressures. The move is designed to encourage a 'reverse brain drain' and reinforce Europe’s commitment to scientific freedom.