“Scegli la Francia”: Emmanuel Macron lancia una piattaforma di benvenuto per i ricercatori internazionali
https://www.lesechos.fr/politique-societe/education/emmanuel-macron-lance-une-plateforme-daccueil-pour-les-chercheurs-internationaux-2160875
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*Universities and research organizations had been waiting for news from the Elysée Palace for weeks, worried that the executive would say nothing about the reception of American researchers who had been prevented or dismissed. “We look ridiculous, this whole affair is taking too long,” grumbled one astute observer recently.*
*The news finally came in the form of a tweet from Emmanuel Macron on Friday evening. Here in France, research is a priority, innovation a culture, science a limitless horizon,” wrote the head of state. Researchers from all over the world, choose France, choose Europe!” Emmanuel Macron is careful not to mention the United States by name.*
*State co-funding*
*The Head of State’s tweet refers to the platform dedicated to applications to host international researchers, hosted on the website of the French National Research Agency (ANR). Again, no mention of the United States. “The platform states: “At a time when the international context is creating the conditions for an unprecedented wave of mobility among researchers around the world, France intends to position itself as a host country for those wishing to continue their work in Europe, drawing on our country’s ecosystem and research infrastructures.*
*The “Choose France for Science” platform will be operated on behalf of the French government by the ANR as part of France 2030. According to the ANR website, “France is committed to providing a bulwark against the attacks on academic freedom worldwide”.*
*The platform will enable universities, schools and research organizations to “apply for government co-funding to host researchers”. “Each hosting project selected could be co-financed by the State up to 50%”. Additional funding could come from local authorities and the private sector.*
*“Rendez-vous on May 5*
*The executive has been working for several weeks on an aid fund that, according to several sources, could reach 100 million euros, and benefit from government and European funding. In his message, Emmanuel Macron said nothing about this fund. However, he “looks forward to seeing you on May 5”.*
*The “Choose France for Science” platform is calling on universities and research organizations to submit projects to host international researchers “in particular in the areas” of health research, climate and biodiversity, digital and artificial intelligence, space studies, agriculture and food, and low-carbon energies. Successful candidates will be required to “submit a competitive European or international project” (ERC, EIC pathfinder, etc.) within two years of their arrival.*
*Emmanuel Macron’s announcement comes after former president François Hollande tabled a bill to create a scientific refugee status. The initiative was prompted by Aix-Marseille University, which was the first to open its doors to American researchers, launching its “Safe place for science” initiative on March 6. On Friday, its president Eric Berton called on all universities to get involved. “I’m sure that government funding will be forthcoming,” he confided in an interview with Les Echos.*
Come to France !
You won’t have any credits for your research…
your salary will be miserable…
and no one in France invests to
make your findings a real business…
But we have wine and beautiful food…
Yeah and they’ll lose all interest the minute they see the salary.
Source: I am a French PhD who had to move country to make more than slightly higher than the minimum wage.
Entry level monthly salary for a University lecturer (maître de conférences): 2358€ before taxes. That’s ~1780€ after taxes.
Minimum wage is 1426€ after taxes.
A 1-bedroom apartment in a uni city like Lyon is >800€/months. Landlords want to see income higher than 3 times the salary. And sometimes a local guarantor.
Choose France!
It’s a cool initiative, but researchers are pretty poorly paid in France and it’s going to cause some strong tensions in the science community if we start hiring US researchers with a pay that is attractive to them without raising the salaries of domestic researchers.
As a French researcher I feel torn. It s good on the paper, but as a few know, France does not provide help for research, hence why a lot of us goes abroad , like in Germany … so ….
I doubt they have enough funding for researchers currently living in France.
While I do agree we have to make use of US researchers leaving the US, there also must be additional funding and it must not be to the disadvantage to the established researches
France and Germany have always been big on research, leading the EU… Glad they are vocal about supporting researchers!
But… if they truly want to retain top talent and drive innovation, they should also address the stagnant wages in academia… competitive salaries are crucial to prevent brain drain and ensure that research careers remain attractive…
Maybe we should start by paying our researchers descent salary and giving them budget for their research so they don’t have to leave to… the US
The platform will open there to apply: https://france2030.agencerecherche.fr/ChooseFranceForScience-2025/accueil.php?
Very adorable on the surface. Aside from the poor salaries they will be given, they wouldn’t be able to dance with the fundings in comparison to the US. Just look at how much the US is funding e.g., Los Alamos labs and how much France spends IN TOTAL. Good luck competing.