In response to President Trump's funding freeze for top US universities, the EU is seizing the opportunity to attract scientists and researchers to Europe. Several institutions are launching initiatives to offer academic freedom and support to US scholars, particularly in areas impacted by political interference. Leaders from the European Research Council and Vrije Universiteit Brussel expressed concern about the adverse effects of US policies on research practices. They emphasize the need to protect academia from political influence and are providing avenues for displaced researchers considering relocation to Europe.
"It is outrageous, unjustified," Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council (ERC), told DW. "I have many friends and colleagues in the US and it is just shocking to see what's happening there."
Jan Danckaert, Rector, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), described it as "painful." He said researchers should be protected as much as possible from political influence, but in the US, the government is interfering for political reasons.
VUB has allocated funding and established a contact point for information for outstanding scholars looking to relocate to Brussels, particularly "excellent researchers currently working in the US who see their line of research threatened."
"We thought that it might be good to specifically advertise in the United States," Danckaert said, "because US scholars see an abrupt funding cut and they might be compelled to seek opportunities in Europe."
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