Europe to burned American scientists: We’ll take you in

“This global landscape is an opportunity to show the world that Europe will remain a safe space for science and research,” European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva told EU lawmakers on Monday evening. “Europe can and should be the best place to do science ... a place that attracts and retains researchers, both international and European.”

Citing significant cuts to federal research spending in the U.S., as well as coercive measures targeting specific universities and researchers investigating climate science, vaccines and minority and gender issues, the commissioner said the bloc was in a unique position to serve as a refuge for top scientists. She also set out a trove of enticements for researchers hit by Trump's moves.

To enhance Europe’s “pull factor” for top-level talent, Zaharieva said the Commission would enshrine freedom of scientific research within EU law and immediately increase the financial support offered by the European Research Council (ERC), the bloc’s public body for scientific and technological enquiry.

Most of the applicants to the Safe Space for Science scheme are researching subjects like climate change, immunology and infectious diseases, or social sciences involving gender, diversity and migration. | Scott Olson/Getty Images

Currently, researchers based in the U.S. who relocate to Europe can apply for €1 million beyond the usual maximum grant amount, which will be increased to €2 million. That means, in total, these researchers could be eligible for grants of up to €4.5 million.

ERC President Maria Leptin told POLITICO the body wants to maintain “Europe’s tradition of openness and support for independent, investigator-driven research, regardless of the nationality or the current location of grant applicants.”

Leptin insisted the ERC isn't purposely trying to poach U.S. talent, “but we want to help our colleagues over there if we can.”