Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen call on foreign researchers to choose Europe

The event, which will bring together representatives of European universities and European Commissioners as well as Ministers of Research, will be closed late in the morning by the French President and the President of the European Commission, in the historic premises of the prestigious Sorbonne university campus, in the heart of Paris.

The threats to academic freedom in the United States are an opportunity to "defend our strategic interests and promote a universalist vision," notes an advisor to Mr. Macron.

The president announced the conference in mid-April, just as a Choose France for Science platform was being launched. This was before the announcement of a similar initiative by the French National Research Centre (CNRS), the leading European organization in terms of the number of researchers.

The aim is to show "at a time when academic freedoms are experiencing a number of setbacks or threats, that Europe is a continent of attractiveness" , according to the Elysée.

Since Donald Trump's return to the White House in January, researchers and universities have been in his government's crosshairs and fear for their future, with academic and research freedoms being undermined and funding cuts being slashed.

"Choose Europe"

Monday's conference will combine concrete announcements with reflections on the future.

For France, "there are credits, there are amounts" that will be announced, possibly in the form of tax incentives, specified an advisor to President Macron.

The Choose France for Science platform indicates that the government could contribute up to 50% of certain research projects, based on merit. But the organizations are awaiting an announcement on the overall budget that will be allocated.

The initiative has raised eyebrows among French higher education and research unions, who consider it "shocking, even indecent."

They denounce the "chronic underfunding" of the sector, the "forced mergers" of establishments, but also the "almost incessant attacks on academic freedom" , recalling the controversies over wokeness at university.

There has been no word yet on any possible measures that Ursula von der Leyen might announce, who announced on Tuesday that Brussels would make "proposals to help scientists and researchers Choose Europe."

The aim is to make France and the Old Continent more attractive, where salaries and the amounts allocated to researchers and research are well below those of the United States.

Even if the continent has undeniable assets in this area, whether in the quality of its research infrastructures for their work or in the reception framework for their families.

These announcements will be focused on research in the fields of health, climate and biodiversity, digital technology and artificial intelligence, space and agriculture, according to the Elysée.

European dependencies

The event will be held in a "broad European" format, according to the Elysée, with British, Swiss and Norwegian participants.

The morning will include two round tables, including American academics and industrialists.

One on the theme of academic freedom and the contribution of research to global public goods. Such as databases, many of which are international, and access to some of which could be threatened by decisions of the American administration.

The second will examine ways to combat European dependencies in research. It will also examine the strategic directions to take in terms of "funding, innovation, and the structuring of research at both the French and European levels," according to an advisor to the Elisée.

Indeed, according to this source, the American disengagement from numerous partnerships "may have consequences on our security, particularly in terms of health monitoring and also on major cooperation programs" , such as those linked to the climate.

The day will continue with a meeting of European research ministers, hosted by their French counterpart, Philippe Baptiste. He will welcome presidents of major European universities and research institutes to his ministry.