Von der Leyen: EUR 500 million over two years to attract scientists to Europe

"We will propose a new EUR 500 million package for 2025-2027 to make Europe a magnet for researchers. This will help support the brightest researchers and scientists from Europe and around the world. We intend to create a new 7-year 'super grant' under the European Research Council to offer a long-term perspective to the best". This was announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaking at the Sorbonne presenting the Choose Europe Initiative. "The priority is for science in Europe to be open and free," she stressed.

"We will present a first European innovation law and a strategy for start-ups, to el

iminate regulatory and other barriers, and to facilitate access to venture capital for start-ups. We must make it easier and more attractive to come to Europe to do research. We will better connect researchers with research institutes. We will speed up the process of coming and staying in Europe,' von der Leyen emphasised further.

"Europe has made its choice. We are choosing to begin a new era of invention and ingenuity. We have chosen to put research and innovation, science and technology, at the heart of our economy. We are choosing to be the continent where universities are the pillars of our societies and our way of life. We have chosen to be the continent where innovation serves humanity. Where global talent is embraced. Because, as the history of the Sorbonne and our excellent universities shows, progress thrives on freedom, openness and collaboration. Our message is clear: Choose science. Choose Europe,' he concluded.

Also working to attract researchers is France, which will invest an extra EUR 100 million in its attractiveness policy for foreign researchers. This was announced by President Emmanuel Macron at the 'Choose Europe for Science' conference at the Sorbonne in Paris.