Faced with the “diktat” of Donald Trump, France and the EU present themselves as a savory to research

It was under the lambris of the great amphithe of the Sorbonne that Emmanuel Macron and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen launched, this Monday, May 5, as part of the Conference Choose Europe for Science, a “Call of the Sorbonne”, which is aimed at foreign researchers, particularly threatened in the United States by the Trump administration policies.

Goal displayed by the Élysée: “At a time when academic freedoms experience a number of reflux or threats, Europe is a continent of attractiveness. »» It would be a question of giving lessons to Trump America, which makes a “Huge error”, According to Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen, and to celebrate Europe, land of reception and attractiveness, by draping in the values ​​of freedom, openness, and cooperation.

Multiple attacks on academic freedom

Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, researchers and universities have been in the crosshairs of his administration which leads massive attacks against science, cutting to the chainsaw in budgets and in the workforce. Researchers also denounce the multiple attacks on academic freedom. “In the whole history of the United States, and perhaps in all the history of democracies, it is even worse than under the MacCarthyism”had entrusted Cédric Villani to humanity In an interview on March 8. A survey shows that three-quarters of scientists working there plan to leave their country. Faced with this obscurantist and liberticide offensive, the Stand Up for Science movement was born in the United States. And a first world day of “support” for science and research was organized on March 7.

Under the guise of saving American researchers, the President of the Republic took advantage of them, with grandiloquent sentences, to announce an in -depth reform of the research system. He insisted on the link of this with efficiency and economic efficiency, in the wake of the Draghi report on European competitiveness.

Emmanuel Macron announces a new investment of 100 million euros

Concretely, the European Union for Research and Innovation program, Horizon Europe, will be abundant by 500 million euros, announced Ursula von der Leyen. Above all, it will be a question of supporting the famous Labex, laboratories of excellence at European level. Ten major sectors have already been selected, called “Sites of the century for Europe” in critical fields, including infectious diseases, space, artificial intelligence, circular economy, nuclear, climate, electronics.

For France, the Elysée tenant announced an additional 100 million euros as part of the France 2030 program. The Choose France for Science platform indicates that the State could abound up to 50 % of certain research projects, to merit. But we know nothing about the assignment of these possible million euros: for which programs, decided by whom, for what types of position and over what period? Knowing that research only makes sense in the long term.

In France, research institutions in difficulty

The initiative arouses the anger of the French unions of higher education and research which deem it “Shocking, even indecent”. They denounce the “Chronic under-funding” of the sector, “Forced groups” of establishments, but also “From almost incessant attacks to academic freedom”.

In France, the institutions of knowledge are attacked. For the past twenty years, we have been witnessing a gradual abolition of positions and increased competition between people, territories or scientific disciplines. As for universities, they face chronic under-funding. “For those who remain, you have to undergo more and more heavy activities, and increasingly lean means. What is the horizon that we defend with such a policy? »» Questions Olivier Berné, astrophysicist, co-initiator of the stand up for science movement in France.

In France too, attacks on an alleged “wokism” or “Islamogauchism” are multiplying at university. However to function, the sciences must have the academic freedom which should be inscribed in the Constitution. When we see the state of research and higher education, one can wonder about the claims of France and Europe to proclaim the “refuge” of scientists. Indeed, remuneration and amounts devoted to research are very below those of the United States. It should be remembered that expenses related to R&D in France amounted to 2.18 %of GDP in 2022, placing our country behind South Korea (5.2 %), the United States (3.6 %), Sweden (3.5 %), Japan (3.4 %), Germany (3.1 %) and the United Kingdom (2.7 %).