With the heightened political hostility following the US’ Trump and Science fiasco, European countries led by France are actively seeing American scientists in 2025 with fresh jobs, research autonomy, and the chance to help shape the technology future of the continent.
As science under Trump increases up what academics describe as a “war on science,” more American scientists are casting their gaze toward Europe seeking not just employment, but renewed purpose.
Cuts to public research funding by the Trump administration have triggered a quiet exodus of scientists, creating a brain drain that best tech talent in Europe is taking place and ready to compete.
France is marketing itself as a haven of science, with French President Emmanuel Macron inviting international scientists to “choose France, choose Europe,” in an X post, pointing to a new website intended to make it easier for them to make the move.
“Here in France, research is a priority, innovation a culture, science a limitless horizon,” President Macron said.
In parallel, Meta’s AI research director Yann LeCun – a vocal critic of US science policy, hailed the news, saying, “The US seems set on destroying its public research funding system.”
“[Europe] may have an opportunity to attract some of the best scientists in the world,” he added in a LinkedIn post last month.
Trump and Science Chaos Boosts Europe’s Tech Program
Across the continent where Trump’s war on science is taking place, doors are opening for France’s Aix-Marseille University, launching the Safe Space for Science program, targeting US scientists.
Belgium’s Vrije Universiteit Brussel followed suit with the same program for American scientists “under threat.”
The shift has had the potential to strongly support Europe’s tech sectors, from the UK’s DeepMind to Switzerland’s ClimeWorks, alongside some of Europe’s top startups emerging out of university research labs. Kanika Chandaria, climate specialist at Danish firm Agreena, called this “strategic opportunity for European countries,” especially in the field of climate technology.
While the future of science under Trump backs away from climate protection, European countries are able to move to be able to “attract top talent and position themselves at the forefront of climate research and technology development,” she said.
A Nature survey, “75% of US scientists who answered Nature poll consider leaving”, indicated US researchers are considering relocation to Europe or Canada due to concerns about Trump’s domestic policy shifts. For them, Europe’s value goes beyond academic freedom.
It seems that the US is abandoning the very science that ignited its global dominance, while Europe isn’t just hiring researchers, it’s giving them purpose. As the Trump science policy era downplays the fundamental value of science, the EU is establishing an essential future for migrating scientists.
That’s a different picture altogether, especially as experts examine the obstacles following the US tech brain drain.
“To attract the best scientific and technological talents, make science and technology research professions attractive,” said LeCun, highlighting how reduced salaries and limited access to capital in Europe could put off others.
“It’s pretty straightforward,” LeCun added.
The Trump and Science news isn’t not just about filling gaps in the job market, it’s about giving researchers a society where what they do matters, where what they think can survive and where tech isn’t politicized but prioritized.
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