Macron tells US scientists to 'choose France' amid research crackdown
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The offer follows confirmation that the first wave of researchers leaving the US due to recent federal budget cuts will begin work in France this June.
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A scientist works in a cellular agriculture lab at Eat Just in Alameda, California, US, Wednesday, June 14, 2023 (AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron has issued a direct appeal to international researchers, particularly those affected by sweeping funding cuts and political pressure in the United States under President Donald Trump, to relocate to France. "Researchers from the world over, choose France, choose Europe," Macron declared in a message posted Friday on X.
His remarks came alongside the announcement of a new government-backed initiative, "Choose France for Science," which will launch a funding platform on May 5. The program is designed to support French universities and research institutions in covering costs associated with hosting foreign scientists.
The offer follows confirmation that the first wave of researchers leaving the US due to recent federal budget cuts will begin work in France this June. Aix Marseille University, which launched its own "Safe Place for Science" initiative in March, reported an overwhelming number of applications from US-based researchers seeking institutional refuge from political and financial pressures.
University president Eric Berton has advocated for a new classification: "refugee scientist," stressing the need for structural mechanisms to support academics at risk. "France and Europe must continue to welcome those displaced from institutions where science is no longer safe," he stated.
"Here in France, research is a priority, innovation a culture, and science a limitless horizon," Macron added.
Ici en France, la recherche est une priorité, l’innovation une culture, la science un horizon sans limite. Chercheurs, chercheuses du monde entier, choisissez la France, choisissez l’Europe ! Je vous donne rendez-vous le 5 mai.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 18, 2025
→ https://t.co/a8qXY6issB
Academic Exodus
The backdrop to this invitation is a growing climate of hostility toward US academia. Trump's administration has proposed major cuts to federal research agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), citing budget constraints and ideological concerns. Programs tied to diversity, LGBTQ+ health, climate change, and civil rights have come under particular scrutiny, with some grants canceled or suspended.
Additionally, the administration has intensified oversight of elite universities, including Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton. Trump recently labeled Harvard "a joke" and argued the university should lose federal research contracts for refusing political supervision.
Read more: Trump calls Harvard a 'joke', says should be stripped of federal funds
According to reports by The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, these moves have triggered concern among researchers about the erosion of academic freedom. Civil liberties groups and science advocacy organizations have warned of a chilling effect on critical research areas and the politicization of funding decisions.
A newly launched French government site affirms that the "Choose France for Science" initiative aims to "stand up to attacks on academic freedom across the globe." The program will allow universities, schools, and research bodies in France to apply for co-funding to host scientists facing repression or displacement, particularly from the United States.
