Macron seeks to attract researchers to France in jab at US
Macron added that he would provide more details on the initiative on May 5th
French President Emmanuel Macron is making a not-so-subtle pitch to lure away US-based researchers who have been affected by Donald Trump's policies.
"Here in France, research is a priority, innovation is a culture, and science is a boundless horizon. Researchers from around the world, choose France, choose Europe!" Macron said on X on Friday, hours after he hosted US State Secretary Marco Rubio and Trump's envoy Steven Witkoff to discuss the war in Ukraine, the Middle East and trade.
Macron added that he would provide more details on the initiative on May 5th. His education minister Elisabeth Borne said in a separate statement that the international context was pushing scientists to relocate - without explicitly mentioning the US.
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Trump has threatened US universities including Harvard with massive funding cuts, prompting research programs to face closures, especially those focusing on issues like the climate. During the US president's first term, Macron had launched a similar initiative dubbed "Make the Planet Great Again" to criticize the US decision to withdraw from the Paris accord on climate change.
The French education ministry said it created an online platform to facilitate relocation for those focusing on topics ranging from health, to climate, biodiversity, decarbonization and natural resources. At a time when the government is warning it will have to save some 40 billion euros in the next budget, the statement said that each project would be funded by institutions, local authorities and the private sector.
