EU unveils science grants to attract talent after US DEI funding cuts

Europe launches a drive to attract scientists and researchers after Trump freezes US funding

SHARMAN MARIA CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL SAYS IT’S ALREADY FEELING THE EFFECTS OF THESE CUTS. AND THEY’RE WARNING THAT THIS WILL MEAN POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO TREATMENTS AND CURES FOR DISEASES. SEEING THESE LITTLE KIDS AND, YOU KNOW, WANT TO TAKE THAT AWAY. GOVERNOR MAURA HEALEY GETTING EMOTIONAL AFTER MEETING WITH PATIENTS AT BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL. SHE SAYS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS ARE ALREADY HURTING CRITICAL RESEARCH. WE HAVE CLINICAL TRIALS HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND PATIENTS IN TRIALS WHO’VE ACTUALLY HAD THEIR TREATMENTS STOP BECAUSE OF THIS. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE CRUELTY OF THAT? RIGHT NOW, CHILDREN’S IS THE LEADING RECIPIENT OF NIH MEDICAL RESEARCH FUNDING, RECEIVING $230 MILLION EVERY YEAR. THE HOSPITAL SAYS IT STANDS TO LOSE HALF OF THAT AND IS ALREADY FEELING THE IMPACT. WE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THE CDC AND THE FDA IN TERMS OF MONITORING FLU. AS AN EXAMPLE. WE HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THAT REGARD, AND THOSE CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN STOPPED. A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS BLOCKED THE CUTS WHILE LAWSUITS MOVE THROUGH THE COURTS. BUT THE GOVERNOR SAYS SOME FUNDING IS STILL HELD UP. WHAT WE HAVE HEARD IS THAT THAT FUNDING ISN’T COMING THROUGH IN ALL INSTANCES. SHE ALSO CRITICIZED CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS, ACCUSING THEM OF LOOKING TO SLASH MEDICAID TO PAY FOR TRILLIONS IN TAX CUTS. ALMOST HALF OF CHILDREN’S PATIENTS ARE ON MEDICAID. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID IT WON’T TOUCH MEDICAID. WE HAVE NOT SEEN MEDICAID CUTS YET, BUT THEY NEED TO GET $880 MILLION OUT OF ONE COMMITTEE IN IN IN CONGRESS. WE JUST DON’T KNOW HOW THEY WOULD DO IT WITHOUT TOUCHING MEDICAID. AND SHE SAYS THAT WOULD ACTUALLY COST MASSACHUSETTS BILLIONS. NOW, THE GOVERNOR SAYS OTHER COUNTRIES ARE CAPITALIZING ON THESE FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS. SHE SAID THAT CHINA WAS, IN FACT, ON THE CAMPUS OF UMASS, TRYING TO RECRUIT TALENT AWAY. WE DID REACH OUT TO UMASS. THEY WERE UNABLE TO CONFIRM THAT FOR US.

Europe launches a drive to attract scientists and researchers after Trump freezes US funding

The European Union launched a drive on Monday to attract scientists and researchers to Europe with offers of grants and new policy plans, after the Trump administration froze U.S. government funding linked to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.“A few years ago, no one would have imagined that one of the biggest democracies in the world would cancel research programs under the pretext that the word diversity was in this program," French President Emmanuel Macron said at the “Choose Europe for Science�� event in Paris.“No one would have thought that one of the biggest democracies in the world would delete with a stroke the ability of one researcher or another to obtain visas,�� Macron said. “But here we are."Taking the same stage at the Sorbonne University, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU’s executive branch would set up a “super grant�� program aimed at offering “a longer-term perspective to the very best�� in the field.She said that 500 million euros ($566 million) will be put forward in 2025-2027 “to make Europe a magnet for researchers.�� It would be injected into the European Research Council, which already has a budget of more than 16 billion euros ($18 billion) for 2021-2027.Von der Leyen said that the 27-nation EU intends “to enshrine freedom of scientific research into law�� with a new legal act. As “the threats rise across the world, Europe will not compromise on its principles,�� she said.The White House responded by describing DEI as “an inherently discriminatory policy.”“If the European Union wants to embrace policies that divide, rather than focus on real scientific discovery, they should not be surprised when U.S. innovation continues to outpace Europe,�� said spokesperson Anna Kelly. "America will continue to attract and cultivate the best talent in science, research, and beyond.”Macron said that the French government would also soon make new proposals to beef up investment in science and research.Last month, hundreds of university researchers in the United States had National Science Foundation funding canceled to comply with U.S. President Donald Trump’s order to end support to research on diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as the study of misinformation.More than 380 grant projects have been cut so far, including work to combat internet censorship in China and Iran and a project consulting with Indigenous communities to understand environmental changes in Alaska’s Arctic region.Some terminated grants that sought to broaden the diversity of people studying science, technology and engineering. Scientists, researchers and doctors have taken to the streets in protest.While not mentioning the Trump administration by name, von der Leyen said that it was “a gigantic miscalculation�� to undermine free and open research.“We can all agree that science has no passport, no gender, no ethnicity, no political party,�� she said. “We believe that diversity is an asset of humanity and the lifeblood of science. It is one of the most valuable global assets and it must be protected.”Von der Leyen's drive to promote opportunities in Europe in the field of science and take advantage of U.S. policy shifts dovetails with the way that she has played up the potential for trade deals with other countries since Trump took office in January and sparked a tariff war last month.The former German defense minister, and trained doctor, vowed that the EU would also address some of the roadblocks that scientists and researchers face, notably excessive red tape and access to businesses.Macron said that science and research must not "be based on the diktats of the few.”Macron said that Europe “must become a refuge�� for scientists and researchers, and he said to those who feel under threat elsewhere: “The message is simple. If you like freedom, come and help us to remain free, to do research here, to help us become better, to invest in our future.”___Lorne Cook reported from Brussels. Associated Press writer Chris Megerian contributed from Washington.

“A few years ago, no one would have imagined that one of the biggest democracies in the world would cancel research programs under the pretext that the word diversity was in this program," French President Emmanuel Macron said at the “Choose Europe for Science�� event in Paris.

“No one would have thought that one of the biggest democracies in the world would delete with a stroke the ability of one researcher or another to obtain visas,�� Macron said. “But here we are."

Taking the same stage at the Sorbonne University, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU’s executive branch would set up a “super grant�� program aimed at offering “a longer-term perspective to the very best�� in the field.

She said that 500 million euros ($566 million) will be put forward in 2025-2027 “to make Europe a magnet for researchers.�� It would be injected into the European Research Council, which already has a budget of more than 16 billion euros ($18 billion) for 2021-2027.

Von der Leyen said that the 27-nation EU intends “to enshrine freedom of scientific research into law�� with a new legal act. As “the threats rise across the world, Europe will not compromise on its principles,�� she said.

The White House responded by describing DEI as “an inherently discriminatory policy.��

“If the European Union wants to embrace policies that divide, rather than focus on real scientific discovery, they should not be surprised when U.S. innovation continues to outpace Europe,�� said spokesperson Anna Kelly. "America will continue to attract and cultivate the best talent in science, research, and beyond.��

Macron said that the French government would also soon make new proposals to beef up investment in science and research.

Last month, hundreds of university researchers in the United States had National Science Foundation funding canceled to comply with U.S. President Donald Trump’s order to end support to research on diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as the study of misinformation.

More than 380 grant projects have been cut so far, including work to combat internet censorship in China and Iran and a project consulting with Indigenous communities to understand environmental changes in Alaska’s Arctic region.

Some terminated grants that sought to broaden the diversity of people studying science, technology and engineering. Scientists, researchers and doctors have taken to the streets in protest.

While not mentioning the Trump administration by name, von der Leyen said that it was “a gigantic miscalculation�� to undermine free and open research.

“We can all agree that science has no passport, no gender, no ethnicity, no political party,�� she said. “We believe that diversity is an asset of humanity and the lifeblood of science. It is one of the most valuable global assets and it must be protected.��

Von der Leyen's drive to promote opportunities in Europe in the field of science and take advantage of U.S. policy shifts dovetails with the way that she has played up the potential for trade deals with other countries since Trump took office in January and sparked a tariff war last month.

The former German defense minister, and trained doctor, vowed that the EU would also address some of the roadblocks that scientists and researchers face, notably excessive red tape and access to businesses.

Macron said that science and research must not "be based on the diktats of the few.��

Macron said that Europe “must become a refuge�� for scientists and researchers, and he said to those who feel under threat elsewhere: “The message is simple. If you like freedom, come and help us to remain free, to do research here, to help us become better, to invest in our future.��

___

Lorne Cook reported from Brussels. Associated Press writer Chris Megerian contributed from Washington.

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Europe launches a drive to attract scientists and researchers after Trump freezes US funding

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