[Text/Observer Network Xiong Chaoyi] As the Trump administration has significantly reduced support for research institutions and threatened to freeze federal funding for American universities such as Harvard University and Columbia University, European leaders are offering financial assistance to American researchers in hopes of benefiting from what they call this "huge blunder."

According to a report by The New York Times on May 5, the French government and the EU held an event called "Choose Europe for Science" at the Sorbonne University in Paris. In his remarks, French President Emmanuel Macron repeatedly criticized the U.S. government's打压approach to researchers, with France already planning to accept scientists leaving the U.S. due to President Trump's policy of cutting funds. Macron announced that France would invest $113 million in special funds for this purpose.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an investment of approximately $566 million, aiming to make Europe an attractive magnet for researchers within the next two years. Although she did not directly mention the U.S., she clearly criticized the current global academic environment that "questions basic, free, and open research," calling it "a big mistake."

The report stated that the main driving force behind this event was the Trump administration's attacks on science and threats to universities. Government ministers and renowned researchers from various parts of Europe attended the conference. For Europe, the U.S. is increasingly seen as a strategic rival, and opening the door to American researchers and scientists is considered a long-term response to this challenge.

On May 5, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke at a press conference. The New York Times

"A few years ago, no one could have imagined that a great 'democracy' in the world would cancel research projects on the pretext of the word 'diversity' appearing in the project." When Macron mentioned the U.S. revoking researchers' visas, he said that for a country so economically dependent on the freedom of science, making such mistakes was "hard to imagine."

The New York Times reported that the message Macron conveyed to scientists at this event was: "If you love 'freedom,' come help us keep 'freedom.'" The report noted that France had previously announced a project to attract American researchers.

AFP learned on March 9 that French officials were urging their research institutions to consider accepting scientists who left the U.S. due to President Trump's policy of cutting funds. Since Trump returned to the White House in January this year, his administration has cut federal research funding and attempted to dismiss hundreds of federal employees working on health and climate research.

"Many renowned researchers have begun to question their future in the U.S.," wrote Philippe Baptiste, Minister of Higher Education and Research under the French Ministry of Education, in a letter to institutions in the country. "We naturally hope to welcome a certain number of them."

France promised to provide up to 50% of international talent introduction funds for universities and research institutions, particularly covering scholars in areas such as climate research and low-carbon energy that have been targeted by the Trump administration. However, specific funding details were only officially released on May 5 - Macron announced that the French government would invest $113 million in special funds for this plan.

President von der Leyen announced at the meeting that she would invest 5 billion euros (approximately $566 million) to make Europe an attractive magnet for researchers within the next two years. She stated that although this amount is not much compared to the billions of cuts faced by U.S. universities, it is additional investment based on the Horizon Europe program, which has a budget of $1 trillion for scientific breakthroughs such as genome sequencing and mRNA vaccines.

Although President von der Leyen did not directly mention the U.S., she clearly criticized the current global environment that "questions basic, free, and open research." "It's a big mistake!" she emphasized.

In March this year, American scientists staged protests against the Trump administration's policy of cutting federal agency budgets. Nature magazine

The report stated that in Europe, people generally believe that Trump's approach of attacking science and academia has made the U.S. abandon its traditional support for "freedom, free speech, and democracy," which is both pressure and opportunity for the European continent. Attracting top scientific talents to vibrant and independent universities is seen as an important part of Europe's strategy to rearm itself as an independent force.

In the long run, the EU Commission plans to double the funding for researchers moving to Europe and include "research freedom" in a law called the "European Research Area Act." President von der Leyen stated: "The priority is to ensure that Europe's science remains 'open and free,' which is our calling card."

Previously, when the Trump administration justified cutting costs by laying off positions in top American research institutions and freezing research grants, Europe had already sounded the alarm. What shocked the European academic community even more was Alan M. Garber, president of Harvard University, saying that the U.S. government's attack on diversity programs and its attempts to interfere with university admissions hiring authority and research domain autonomy.

Harvard University has sued the Trump administration over the freezing of $2.2 billion in federal funds, and Trump threatened last week to revoke the university's tax-exempt status. The U.S. government also dismissed staff from several top research institutions, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the largest biomedical research funding agency in the world—the National Institutes of Health.

Meanwhile, some federal agencies have removed sensitive words from their websites and funding application materials, with terms such as "climate science," "diversity," and "gender" included on the list of taboo words.

In general, these actions have created a "chilling effect" for the academic community and research institutions. Many scientists are not only worried about their jobs but also concerned about the long-term feasibility of their research. "In the U.S., once a 'paradise for researchers,' academic freedom is being challenged. The boundary between truth and falsehood, facts and beliefs, is being weakened," said Elisabeth Borne, French Minister of Education.

Currently, French universities are leading the effort to benefit from potential talent outflows from the U.S. Aix-Marseille University launched the "Science Refuge" program in March this year in response to Trump's cuts, currently interviewing around 300 applicants. Subsequently, many universities and research institutions followed suit.

Louis Vassy, president of Sciences Po Paris, said: "Whether for self-interest or values, we must become a sanctuary for oppressed knowledge." Former French President Hollande even proposed legislation to establish a "scientific refugee" status to protect scholars threatened by their research work in their home countries.

However, some university presidents and professors criticized this move. They argued that while France is attracting American researchers, it has also been cutting higher education and research budgets to address the country's growing budget deficit.

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