France Positions Itself as a Scientific Haven: Macron Launches the ‘Choose France for Science’ Platform
On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron issued a clear and compelling call to the international scientific community: “Choose France — and Europe.”
In a statement that resonated far beyond French borders, Macron declared that “in France, research is a priority, innovation a part of our culture, and science a boundless horizon.” His words, shared on social media, came with a formal invitation for researchers to gather in France on May 5 — an unmistakable signal of France’s intent to welcome global talent, especially those feeling constrained by shifting political climates elsewhere.
This statement coincides with the launch of Choose France for Science, a new national platform developed by the French National Research Agency (ANR). Created as part of the France 2030 strategic investment plan, the program allows French academic and research institutions to apply for government co-funding to host international researchers. The goal is clear: to establish France as a secure, supportive, and forward-looking destination for scientific inquiry.
The timing of this initiative is particularly significant. In recent years, the academic landscape in the United States — traditionally one of the world’s leading research powerhouses — has become increasingly politicised. Debates over curriculum content in public universities, particularly in disciplines such as climate science, gender studies, and public health, have led to legislative efforts in some U.S. states to limit or reshape what can be taught. These developments have triggered alarm among academics who fear a rollback of the intellectual freedoms that are foundational to credible research.
France’s response has been to move in the opposite direction — offering not only refuge but active encouragement. As someone who regularly supports researchers and academics relocating to France, I have witnessed firsthand the increasing number of highly skilled professionals seeking stability, institutional support, and academic independence. The launch of this platform formalises what many already sensed: France is open for science — and serious about it.
Choose France for Science is not simply a symbolic gesture. It offers a structured, practical framework through which universities, grandes écoles, and other research-performing bodies in France can co-finance research fellowships and placements. The program focuses on areas deemed strategically important to France’s scientific and economic future, including health and medical research, climate and biodiversity, artificial intelligence, space exploration, food security, renewable energy, and digital infrastructure. Projects selected through the platform may receive up to 50% public funding, with the remainder expected to come from host institutions, local authorities, or private sector partners.
Evaluation criteria are rigorous. Applicants must demonstrate the scientific merit of the proposed project, its relevance in both institutional and societal terms, the researcher’s personal motivation to conduct their work in France, and the project’s funding feasibility. Researchers who are awarded positions through the program are also expected to submit a competitive European or international research proposal — such as an ERC or EIC Pathfinder application — within two years of arriving in France.
Notably, the program is inclusive of researchers who have not yet secured a host institution. A dedicated support team is available to help applicants identify potential matches and guide them through the submission process. This flexibility is particularly welcome for scholars in transition, or for those displaced from their positions due to political or funding pressures in their home countries.
Beyond the financial and administrative mechanics of the program, the message it carries is political in the most constructive sense. France is asserting its belief that scientific progress is a global endeavour, one that depends on free, open, and stable environments. As countries around the world — including the United States — increasingly politicise education and research, France is positioning itself as a defender of the universal values that underlie credible science: independence, rigor, collaboration, and inquiry without constraint.
France’s advantages are considerable. It boasts a robust public research infrastructure, well-integrated European networks, strong legal protections for academic work, and deep public investment in science and innovation. But what is perhaps more compelling is the vision behind the investment: a belief in science as a driver of progress, and in freedom of thought as a national priority.
For researchers looking for a new academic home — or simply a place where they can carry out their work with the dignity and support they deserve — France is offering a credible, well-funded, and welcoming alternative.
Further details, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, are available through the ANR’s official website: Choose France for Science – ANR Platform
At a time when some of the world’s largest academic systems are grappling with ideological pressure and declining trust, France’s message to researchers is refreshingly clear: You are welcome here. Your work matters. And your freedom to pursue it will be protected.
