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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on POLITICO or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron launched the €500 million “Choose Europe for Science” initiative, aiming to attract international researchers amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s rollback of support for higher education
• Von der Leyen denounced attacks on free scientific inquiry as a "gigantic miscalculation," while Macron emphasized Europe's role as a "safe haven" for scientific freedom
🔭 The context: Trump’s administration has proposed severe funding cuts to U.S. universities, particularly targeting institutions accused of ideological bias, sparking fears over academic freedom
• Europe, already facing its own brain drain challenges, is leveraging this opportunity to strengthen its global leadership in science
• Macron had previously attempted a similar strategy with the "Make Our Planet Great Again" program following Trump's 2017 Paris Agreement withdrawal
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Free and well-funded scientific research underpins progress on climate change, public health, and technological innovation
• By creating a welcoming environment for displaced researchers, Europe could bolster global sustainability efforts
• However, success hinges on addressing domestic issues, such as competitive salaries and research funding gaps
⏭️ What's next: Von der Leyen announced plans for a broader "European Innovation Act" and a "Startup and Scaleup Strategy" to commercialize scientific discoveries, alongside a legal guarantee for research freedom through a “European Research Area Act”
• The European Commission is also pushing for member states to meet a long-standing goal of investing 3% of GDP in R&D by 2030
• France is set to add €100 million through its France 2030 program to further incentivize researchers
💬 One quote: “There can be no lasting democracy without free and open science.” — Emmanuel Macron
📈 One stat: The European Union has been urging member states to invest 3% of GDP in research and development since 2000, but most have consistently fallen short of this target
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