France Lures US Scientists With Academic Freedom & €30M Funding

The 'Choose France for Science' initiative aims to attract researchers seeking greater academic freedom.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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France is offering funding to 46 scientists through the 'Choose France for Science' initiative, with the vast majority—41—relocating from the United States. The more than €30-million program, launched last April, aims to attract researchers seeking greater academic freedom amidst concerns over funding stability and academic freedom in the US.

Why it matters

The recruitment of researchers by France highlights a potential shift in the global landscape of scientific research, driven by concerns over funding stability and academic freedom in the US. However, the scale of this movement remains relatively small compared to the overall size of the US research community, and the financial resources of US funding agencies remain substantial.

The details

The initiative is part of a broader European effort, including the EU's 'Choose Europe' initiative which is supported by nearly €900 million (US$1.1 billion) in research funding, to recruit research talent. Researchers from Columbia University, which had hundreds of millions of dollars in research grants cut and frozen last year, are among those relocating. Award recipients include Zhongkai Tao, a mathematician formerly at the University of California, Berkeley, who will now work at the Institute of Advanced Scientific Studies (IHES) in Paris, and astrophysicist Kartik Sheth, previously associate chief scientist at NASA before being laid off, who will take a three-year position at Aix-Marseille University.

  • The 'Choose France for Science' initiative was launched last April.
  • The EU's 'Choose Europe' initiative, which is supporting the recruitment efforts, is backed by nearly €900 million (US$1.1 billion) in research funding.

The players

Élisabeth Borne

The former French minister for higher education and research who stated that France would offer a 'refuge' to researchers as 'science and research face unprecedented threats worldwide'.

Zhongkai Tao

A mathematician formerly at the University of California, Berkeley, who will now work at the Institute of Advanced Scientific Studies (IHES) in Paris.

Kartik Sheth

An astrophysicist who was previously associate chief scientist at NASA before being laid off, and will now take a three-year position at Aix-Marseille University.

Sharon Milgram

A former employee at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) who noted that 'enthusiasm and morale for doing science is low' in the United States.

Alka Patel

A historian of art and architecture previously at the University of California, Irvine, who is among those relocating to France.

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What they’re saying

“We must offer a refuge to researchers as science and research face unprecedented threats worldwide.”

— Élisabeth Borne, Former French Minister for Higher Education and Research

“Enthusiasm and morale for doing science is low in the United States.”

— Sharon Milgram, Former Employee, US National Institutes of Health

What’s next

The recruitment of researchers by France is part of a broader European effort to attract global scientific talent, with the EU's 'Choose Europe' initiative providing nearly €900 million in research funding to support these efforts.

The takeaway

The influx of US scientists to France highlights growing concerns over funding stability and academic freedom in the United States, though the scale of this movement remains relatively small compared to the overall size of the US research community. The financial resources of US funding agencies like the NIH also remain substantial, suggesting the global research landscape may be shifting but not drastically altered by these shifts in scientific talent.