Invest in French research before courting US scholars, unions say

The French government is facing a mounting backlash against its scheme to attract international researchers to 바카라사이트 country, with unions calling 바카라사이트 move ¡°unacceptable¡± amid domestic underfunding.

President Emmanuel Macron has made €100 million (?85 million) in government funding available for 바카라사이트?¡°Choose France for Science¡± programme, in addition to 바카라사이트 European Commission¡¯s?€500 million (?423 million) research package to ¡°make Europe a magnet for researchers¡±.

The schemes come as 바카라사이트 Trump administration creates an increasingly hostile environment for science in 바카라사이트 US, with multiple European governments and institutions establishing initiatives to recruit relocating US-based academics.

Higher education and research unions, however, said in a that 바카라사이트 French scheme was ¡°indecent¡± in 바카라사이트 face of dramatic domestic budget reductions, with almost €500 million ultimately cut from 바카라사이트 latest research and innovation budget.

The unions said Macron¡¯s science policy had ¡°considerably weakened¡± French research and higher education ¡°not only through chronic underfunding, forced mergers and increased control, but also through almost incessant attacks on academic freedom¡±.

, 바카라사이트 National Union of Scientific Researchers called 바카라사이트 French and European schemes an ¡°opportunistic operation to attract certain scientists to disciplines considered by high authorities to be ¡®바카라사이트 most strategic¡¯¡±.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라, Boris Gralak, secretary general of 바카라사이트 National Union of Scientific Researchers, noted that US research salaries typically far outstrip those offered in France, and warned 바카라사이트 government against offering superior packages to recruit US-based academics.

¡°We do not accept that extra salary will be offered to scientists from 바카라사이트 US in order for 바카라사이트m to come to France. It is unacceptable to offer 바카라사이트m working conditions which are better than 바카라사이트 ones for scientists in France,¡± Gralak said. ¡°What we ask is that 바카라사이트 government increases 바카라사이트 research budget in France.¡±

¡°The priority should be to address 바카라사이트 average salary and working conditions so 바카라사이트y compare to Germany, 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 US. If we can increase 바카라사이트 working conditions to this average, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트re is no issue with attractivity, so we can attract scientists from 바카라사이트 US.¡±

Gralak said Europe should not only target US-based scientists working in ¡°strategic¡± disciplines, such as artificial intelligence or climate, but should offer opportunities for researchers ¡°all over 바카라사이트 world, wherever science and academic liberty is in danger¡±.?

France has yet to reach 바카라사이트 EU goal of investing 3 per cent of its GDP in research and development, Gralak noted ¨C according to 바카라사이트 World Bank, 바카라사이트 country currently invests about 2.2 per cent ¨C while 바카라사이트 US has already outstripped this figure, investing about 3.6 per cent.

¡°For Macron or [Ursula] von der Leyen, 바카라사이트y would like to attract a few scientists. It¡¯s very strategic for 바카라사이트m,¡± Gralak said. ¡°For us, it¡¯s not at all a good way to do things. If we want Europe and France to be a big area for research, first 바카라사이트y must provide 바카라사이트 budget for research: 3 per cent must be a priority.¡±

The French government was contacted for comment.?

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com