In a direct response to the U.S. administration’s decision to cut funding for scientific research, the European Union has announced a major investment of over €500 million to strengthen science and attract researchers from around the world, reports Rks News.
The announcement comes at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has taken several steps to reduce or eliminate funding for research projects focused on diversity, disinformation, and climate change.
At the “Choose Europe for Science” event held at Sorbonne University in Paris, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed deep concern over the direction the U.S. is taking regarding science policy.
Macron openly criticized the United States, stating:
“No one would have imagined a few years ago that one of the world’s greatest democracies would cancel research programs simply because the word ‘diversity’ appeared in them.”
Von der Leyen called this approach a major mistake:
“Unfortunately, we’re seeing the role of science being questioned in today’s world. Investment in fundamental, free, and open research is being doubted. What an extraordinarily wrong calculation.”
Their remarks follow the U.S. National Science Foundation’s recent cancellation of hundreds of grants covering topics such as equity, vaccine information, and the fight against disinformation. Additionally, a newly released Trump administration budget proposal includes cuts to climate change research and the closure of a key nursing research institute.
In this context, the EU aims to establish itself as a global hub for science, positioning against what it sees as a retreat by the U.S. from principles of free and evidence-based research.
