EU launches €500 million fund to attract US researchers

The European Commission has announced a €500 million fund to attract top researchers from the United States and other countries to Europe, aiming to position the EU as a global leader in science and innovation. The incentive, available from 2025 to 2027, is part of the 'Choose Europe for Science' initiative and comes amid funding cuts and political pressures facing US academia under the Trump administration. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the EU's commitment to open, collaborative research and pledged to increase R&D investment to 3% of GDP by 2030. French President Emmanuel Macron also criticized US science policies, inviting researchers who value academic freedom to work in Europe. The initiative builds on existing programs like Horizon Europe and will include efforts to remove regulatory barriers and boost innovation. The move is widely seen as an effort to make Europe a more attractive destination for scientists concerned about the erosion of academic freedoms and funding in the US.