As the U.S. slashes funding for science and research, Europe is rolling out the red carpet for American scientists.

This week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled the “Choose Europe for Science” initiative-a €500 million ($568 million) package aimed at luring top researchers, particularly from the United States, to the continent.

The program, running from 2025 to 2027, offers long-term “super grants,” enhanced relocation support, and extended contracts for early-career scientists. “The importance of science in our world is being questioned. This is a monumental misjudgment,” von der Leyen declared, emphasizing that “science is vital for our future in Europe. Without it, we cannot effectively tackle the global challenges we face, from health issues to technological advancements, and from climate change to oceanic health”.

The timing is no coincidence. President Trump’s administration has proposed deep cuts to the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, prompting many U.S. researchers to seek opportunities abroad. Recent data shows a 32% surge in American applications to foreign institutions this year alone.

Europe’s new initiative also aims to streamline visa processes, double financial support for relocating scientists, and enshrine scientific freedom in law. “We want scientists and researchers from all over the world to make Europe their home-and to make Europe the home of innovation again,” von der Leyen said.

With this bold move, Europe signals its ambition to become the global epicenter of scientific discovery –just as the U.S. risks a new wave of brain drain.