The European Research Council (ERC) is doubling the relocation allowance it makes to researchers coming to the EU to take up one of its grants. At present it offers third-country researchers up to €1 million to cover eligible start-up costs in their new European host institution; this will now rise to €2 million.
The change comes at the request of Ekaterina Zaharieva, the European commissioner responsible for research and innovation, who has been seeking new ways to attract US scientists keen to escape from Donald Trump’s assault on research funding and academic freedom.
Last week, 13 governments [urged Zaharieva in a letter](https://sciencebusiness.net/international-news/europe-scrambles-help-researchers-escape-trump) to help provide options for US-based researchers to pursue their work in Europe in the face of massive layoffs,…