European nations plan to attract ousted U.S. researchers

A group of European Union countries is planning to attract researchers who have recently lost their jobs in the United States due to President Donald Trump's government staff cuts. According to a report from Politico, twelve EU governments believe that now is the time for an "attractivity boom" to bring talent from abroad, especially from the U.S. The report mentions that these countries are concerned about threats to scientific freedom and funding cuts in the current international context, although it does not name the U.S. specifically. Much of the staffing cuts have affected agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control. Countries eager to recruit these researchers include France, Germany, Spain, and several others. French Research Minister Philippe Baptiste emphasized the need to organize facilities to welcome talents who may want to leave the U.S. European universities are also actively seeking American scholars. The Free University Brussels recently announced twelve positions for international researchers, focusing on attracting talent from the U.S. Additionally, Aix-Marseille University in France has created a "safe space for science" initiative, aimed at supporting scientists who may feel insecure in their research environments.