Background information

Due to political instability and budget cuts in the United States, the French government aims to attract scientists to France. The platform "Choose France for Science" is operated by the National Agency for Research (Agence Nationale de la Recherche). The program highlights France’s academic freedom, quality, and support for researcher mobility.

Content of measure

The platform "Choose France for Science" is funded through the France 2030 plan, with a budget of €54 billion, aimed at helping France catch up in terms of industrial development, investing heavily in innovative technologies and supporting the ecological transition. Universities and research organisations will be able to host academics working in seven key fields: * Health research * Climate, biodiversity, sustainable societies * Digital technology and artificial intelligence * Space studies * Agriculture, sustainable food, forests, and natural resources * Low-carbon energies * Digital components, systems, and infrastructures.

Each project will be financed by the hosting institutions. Local authorities and the private sector may contribute up to 50% of the total project funding. The platform is organised by the National Agency for Research (Agence Nationale de la Recherche), which operates under the Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

Use of measure

According to the Minister for Higher Education and Research, around one hundred researchers will be able to take part in the program. Each researcher and their team is estimated to cost around €1 million over three years. This effort may expand if a European project is introduced.

A similar initiative, launched by Aix-Marseille University in early March 2025 under the name "Safe for Science", received 298 applications. Of the 242 eligible candidates, 20 will be selected. Among the applicants, 135 are from the United States, and the majority come from a range of well-established universities.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Particular professions	Does not apply to businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	Local funds National funds Other National Recovery and Resilience Facility

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement as case not in social partner domain	No involvement as case not in social partner domain
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

There does not seem to have been any involvement from social partners' in the design of the measure. It remains to be seen if they will be involved in the future implementation and monitoring.

Views and reactions

No trade unions or employer organisations have yet published any views or reactions to the measure. Universities themselves are facing challenging budget conditions due to a lack of funding, which may lead to potential criticism.

Sectors and occupations

Sources

• 20 February 2025: Le Parisien: Universités en déficit : où en est réellement la « dégradation des conditions de formation » ? (www.leparisien.fr)
• 18 April 2025: Agence National de la Recherche : Choose France for Science : lancement de la plateforme dédiée aux candidatures d’accueil de chercheurs internationaux (anr.fr)
• 18 April 2025: Le Monde : Emmanuel Macron appelle les chercheurs internationaux à « choisir » la France et l’Europe, avec un « rendez-vous le 5 mai » (www.lemonde.fr)
• 18 April 2025: Ministère de l’Éducation nationale, de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche: Lancement de la plateforme « Choose France for Science », une première étape pour préparer l'accueil des chercheurs internationaux en France (www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr)
• 19 April 2025: France Info : La France peut accueillir des centaines de chercheurs du monde entier, selon le ministre de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche (www.francetvinfo.fr)
• 19 April 2025: France 3: "On aura des budgets dédiés", la France souhaite accueillir des "centaines" de "réfugiés scientifiques" menacés par la politique de Trump (france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr)