US Scientists Overwhelmingly Apply for French Program – DW – 04/18/2025

A group of researchers from the United States is set to start their work at a French university in June, as the academic community scrambles in response to significant budget cuts announced by President Donald Trump’s administration. France’s Aix-Marseille University announced this initiative under a program called “Safe Place for Science,” which aims to provide sanctuary to US scientists facing educational funding reduction in their home country. The program received an overwhelming response with 298 applications, of which 242 were deemed eligible, highlighting the urgency among academics to find secure environments for their research. Alongside this, Europe is witnessing a surge in interest from US-based academics considering an exodus due to the growing threats to their careers. In a message to Reuters, Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting, Friedrich Merz, noted the opportunity this presents for Europe to attract top scientific talent. However, despite these efforts and the desire to offer sanctuary to US researchers, some argue that the historical funding gap between universities in the US and those in Europe remains a significant hurdle to be overcome before Europe can emerge as a comparable scientific hub.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/french-program-for-us-scientists-draws-flood-of-applicants/a-72279414?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf