Paris (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Monday, the European Union and France will host a conference in Paris aimed at attracting US researchers to the continent, as academic institutions face growing political and financial challenges due to President Donald Trump’s policies.
The initiative arises amid growing tensions between the Trump administration and prestigious universities regarding admissions, hiring practices, curriculum control, and reactions to pro-Palestine protests on campus.
French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will introduce the “Choose Europe for Science” initiative at a conference at Sorbonne University.
What is the goal of the Paris science conference?
This initiative aims to “encourage researchers and entrepreneurs, both public and private, from around the globe to select Europe and France as their base of operations,” as stated by the Elysee Palace.
“In the United States, once a paradise for researchers, academic freedom is being called into question. The boundary between truth and falsehood, between facts and belief, is being weakened,” French Education Minister Élisabeth Borne stated during her opening speech.
She highlighted the recent stances that oppose the “scientific consensus” on climate, biodiversity, public health, and gender equality, emphasizing that scientists and researchers are experiencing “unprecedented rejections” globally.
“We must draw the consequences of these upheavals with clarity. In the face of them, France and Europe must rise to the occasion by opening their doors to threatened researchers and by firmly reaffirming their unwavering commitment to academic freedom and scientific independence,”
Borne also said.
What academic freedoms are under threat in the US?
As reported by BBC, President Donald Trump’s administration has declared plans to cut billions from overhead costs in biomedical research grants as part of wider cost-saving efforts. Some scientists argue that this decision will hinder scientific progress.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) stated it will reduce grants for “indirect costs” associated with research, including expenses for buildings, utilities, and equipment. “The United States should have the best medical research in the world,” NIH said in its announcement.
“It is accordingly vital to ensure that as many funds as possible go towards direct scientific research costs rather than administrative overhead.”
The agency projected that the reductions, effective Monday, would result in savings of $4 billion. The NIH announced that it would limit the rates for grants covering indirect research costs to 15 percent, which is half of the existing average rate of 30 percent.
