\u201cThis is the chance for Europe to start a new Enlightenment and create new partnerships around the world,\u201d said Alain-Laurent Verbeke, a law professor at Belgium\u2019s KU Leuven research university who has also taught at Harvard Law School since 2007.<\/p>\n
European universities and top politicians have mobilized<\/a> in response to Trump\u2019s domestic measures, creating new initiatives aimed at attracting top foreign talent to Europe by offering generous grants and greater academic freedom.<\/p>\n Earlier this month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a \u20ac500 million plan<\/a> named \u201cChoose Europe for Science\u201d aiming to lure foreign researchers to the EU.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are doubling the potential amount that researchers who relocate to Europe from anywhere in the world can request as relocation funds,\u201d said Maria Leptin, president of the European Research Council (ERC), the bloc\u2019s public body for scientific and technological enquiry which is partnering with the Commission on the initiative. \u201cWe need to step up our efforts. And not because of what is happening in the U.S., we need to do it anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n Last week the Commission announced plans to accelerate visa procedures<\/a> to attract U.S. researchers and on Friday, EU research ministers met in Brussels<\/a> to discuss how to increase Europe\u2019s competitiveness in science and innovation. <\/strong><\/p>\n