What does NRC think | The EU should not just pick up American scientists

It was a nice setting for an attractive offer: on the Sorbonne University in Paris-the place where Marie Curie, Thomas van Aquino and Jacques Derrida taught-Ursula von der Leyen flew on Monday with 500 million euros. The chairman of the European Commission takes off that amount To tempt scientists from elsewhere to accept a job in the EU. After all: investing in fundamental, free and open research is being questioned in some countries, says Von der Leyen, but there is absolutely no question of this in Europe.

She did not speak out about where that is the case. The French President Emmanuel Macron also did not give the beast a name, but the examples he quoted did not leave much about the imagination: this half billion euros is meant to attract scientists for those who have become too troubled in the United States.

And bleak is It in America. Last Monday the prestigious Harvard University A letter from the Ministry of Education It stated that the institution « has made a mockery of higher education » and is guilty of « hideous racism » with diversity policy for minorities. Harvard can omit further applications from federal support, according to the ministry. That notice came on top of an earlier decision of the Trump government to freeze two billion dollars of subsidies already granted, a measure that challenges Harvard to court.

When a nation deals with its best scientists in such a way – other American universities also know the gram -star eye of Trump – it is not strange that countries here see opportunities to bring in misunderstanding talent. Already in March Minister Bruins (Education and Sciences, NSC) announced that the Netherlands A fund for ‘endangered’ top scientists went to set up. He, too, did not explicitly mentioned that this 25 million euros was intended to lure people from the US the ocean. Probably wise, but also ridiculous; If everyone knows it is about Trumps America, that could also be said.

In addition to this Dutch pouch, there is now a much larger bag of European money. Just like when the Dutch government announced its intentionon Monday some murmur from the French universities sounded. This is because not only in the Netherlands is cut in higher education and research. The question of where this 500 million euros comes from is therefore legitimate. Von der Leyen said nothing about it. Her idea did not yet have much more than the intended amount.

The EU would do well to develop clear plans for attracting scientific talent from the US. Picking low -hanging fruit is not a strategy, just as random toppers from different fields of different fields seduce to a switch. First, it must be clear: what does Europe think important? Does the EU seek talent in the field of, for example, climate change and sustainability, or should the best AI researchers come this way?

In addition, the EU must coordinate its efforts with the Member States. It is unwise if the people of The Hague are fished on the same people as with the Brussels euros. It is logical that every country and every university wants to bring in the greatest talents, but that is not the way to optimally benefit from Trumps mismanagement.

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