Macron’s bid to attract new scientists to France
(MENAFN) French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent push to position France as a welcoming refuge for scientists affected by political shifts in the United States is facing strong criticism from within the country’s own academic circles.
On the surface, the plan seems well-timed. France is promoting itself as a stable, well-funded environment for international researchers, especially as the U.S. scientific landscape becomes more influenced by political agendas. To support this vision, new funding schemes and high-profile campaigns have been launched to lure researchers from abroad.
In early May, Macron appeared alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a major summit, where von der Leyen introduced a €500 million ($585 million) initiative from the EU aimed at drawing global scientific talent. Macron backed the effort with an additional €100 million commitment from France.
A month before the summit, Macron rolled out a national campaign titled Choose France for Science, aimed at attracting researchers in key disciplines. He described the campaign as a stand for “free” and “strong” science, and he criticized what he described as politically motivated interference in research. The program particularly targets scientists based in the U.S., especially those working in sectors like public health, environmental science, AI, space technology, agriculture, and energy.
This current drive draws parallels to Macron’s 2017 Make Our Planet Great Again campaign, which was launched after the United States withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement under President Donald Trump.
However, the same day the Choose France for Science summit took place, a coalition of French higher education and research unions released a scathing open letter titled, “Welcoming international researchers to France: Who are we kidding?” According to the statement, Macron's campaign glosses over deep-rooted problems within France’s academic system.
The letter, endorsed by roughly a dozen labor unions, outlined several grievances. It pointed to persistent underfunding, mandatory institutional mergers, and what it called “increased control” over academic institutions. The statement also cited repeated restrictions on academic freedom, including disciplinary measures against scholars who voiced support for Palestinians and prohibitions on events focused on Gaza. The unions argued these issues have only worsened since Macron assumed office in 2017.
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