Europe Next Scientific Renaissance?

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01540-y

Kieron Flanagan, a science-policy researcher at the University of Manchester, UK, agrees: governments “need to really look at their own research systems and the reasons why their scientists are not in those systems to begin with”, he says.

Global shift

The shift away from the United States should be a wake-up call for Europe, says Leptin. “Why does Europe have to act to attract scientists only at a time when life is made miserable for them in the US? Why aren’t they coming here anyway?” she says. “That’s what Europe should be thinking about.”

For decades, the United States has been the world’s engine of innovation and has trained the best scientists globally, says Flanagan. People used to look at it as a uniquely stable science system, he says, but now, “that’s not guaranteed”. However, the shift could create opportunities: “A different distribution of the global scientific effort might mean that there’s more attention paid to different problems.”

Leptin is optimistic that, despite the attacks on US science, the global system is sufficiently resilient to recover. “Research is global. We’re one big community.” In the meantime, if US scientists need space and money to continue their research in Europe, “I’m happy to do that,” she says, “even if they want to go back afterwards”.

Nature 641, 1077-1079 (2025)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-01540-y 

 

Europe’s Molecular Legacy — and the Opportunity to Lead Again
Modern molecular biology was not born in the United States. Its intellectual roots lie deeply embedded in European soil:

United Kingdom: The Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge — home to James Watson and Francis Crick’s DNA double helix model in 1953 — was emblematic of postwar British excellence in structural biology. Max Perutz and John Kendrew were also based there, leading protein crystallography.

Germany: Before the rise of the Nazi regime, Germany was the global leader in biochemistry and genetics. Figures like Paul Ehrlich, Otto Warburg, and Richard Goldschmidt laid foundational work in immunology, cellular respiration, and chromosomal theory.

France: The Pasteur Institute helped pioneer microbiology and virology. Later, French molecular biology came to prominence through François Jacob, Jacques Monod, and André Lwoff, who won the Nobel Prize in 1965 for their work on gene regulation.

WWII and the Transatlantic Brain Drain
World War II and the rise of fascism decimated Europe’s scientific landscape. Persecution, war, and limited funding drove a mass exodus of Jewish and liberal scientists:

Enrico Fermi, Leo Szilard, Lise Meitner, Hans Bethe, and many others fled to the U.S.

The Manhattan Project and postwar Cold War priorities funneled billions into American science, creating institutions like the NIH, NSF, and DOE that became magnets for global talent.

America became not just a haven, but the epicenter of innovation, reshaping molecular biology with institutions like Harvard, Caltech, and the NIH intramural programs.

Can Europe Lead Again?
As noted in the Nature article (Nature 641, 1077–1079, 2025), Europe finds itself at a potential inflection point:

“Why aren’t [scientists] coming here anyway?” — Leptin.

Europe has world-class institutions (EMBL, Max Planck Institutes, CNRS, Pasteur Institute, Francis Crick Institute), but faces structural issues:

Fragmented funding mechanisms and bureaucratic barriers across EU nations.

Lack of long-term career stability for young researchers compared to tenure-track systems in the U.S.

Limited risk-taking culture in grant-making relative to DARPA/ARPA-H style funding in the U.S.

As Kieron Flanagan notes, the perceived stability of the U.S. science system is no longer guaranteed — politicization, funding volatility, and visa restrictions have tarnished the luster.

Policy and Vision for a New Scientific Renaissance in Europe
Europe can seize this moment by:

Streamlining researcher mobility and academic hiring across EU states — a “Schengen of science.”

Investing boldly in frontier research through initiatives like Horizon Europe, but with fewer bureaucratic strings.

Creating safety nets and attractive packages for early-career scientists — lab space, multi-year funding, and mentorship pipelines.

Positioning itself as a stable, values-driven science hub — especially for U.S. scientists frustrated by political interference or underfunding.

A Global System — or a New Scientific Non-Alignment Movement?
While Leptin notes that "research is global", the competition for scientific talent is intensifying. The real opportunity lies not in nationalistic hoarding of talent, but in creating global hubs that:

Address local and planetary challenges (e.g., climate change, antimicrobial resistance).

Invite scientists-in-exile (from the U.S., China, or elsewhere) to engage in meaningful, productive research — even if temporary.

Foster distributed centers of excellence, not one hegemonic “center.”

Conclusion
The U.S. took the lead in molecular biology by accident of history and decisive action. Europe now stands at a similar crossroads. By rethinking its fragmented systems and embracing bold reform, Europe could catalyze the next revolution in biology — not by mimicking the U.S., but by reclaiming its heritage of curiosity, depth, and global collaboration.

Or as Monod once said:

“The ancient covenant is in pieces; man knows at last that he is alone in the indifferent immensity of the universe.”
But if Europe steps forward with unity, purpose, and vision — scientists may no longer feel so alone.

** 

Can Europe Lead the Next Scientific Renaissance?
Modern molecular biology was not born in Silicon Valley — it began in Europe. Nobel laureate Jacques Monod once said, “The ancient covenant is in pieces; man knows at last that he is alone in the indifferent immensity of the universe.”[古老的盟约已经破碎；人类终于明白，在这冷漠而浩瀚的宇宙中，自己是孤独的]（Jacques Monod-:《Chance and Necessity》).
In the UK, Watson & Crick unveiled the DNA double helix; Max Perutz and John Kendrew led protein crystallography at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge.
Germany once led the world in biochemistry and genetics, with pioneers such as Paul Ehrlich and Otto Warburg; additionally, Richard Goldschmidt contributed foundational work in immunology, cellular respiration, and chromosomal theory.
France’s Pasteur Institute shaped early microbiology, and François Jacob, Jacques Monod, and André Lwoff won the Nobel Prize in 1965 for their work on gene regulation.
But WWII changed everything. Fascism and war forced brilliant minds — Einstein, Meitner, Bethe, Fermi, Szilard — to flee. The U.S. became their refuge. With political will and billions in funding, America turned crisis into opportunity and became the world’s engine of innovation. The Manhattan Project and postwar Cold War priorities funneled billions into American science, creating institutions like the NIH, NSF, and DOE that became magnets for global talent.

America became not just a haven, but the epicenter of innovation, reshaping molecular biology with institutions like Harvard, Caltech, and the NIH intramural programs.

Today, that dominance is being questioned. In a recent Nature article (Nature 641, 1077–1079, 2025), experts warn that U.S. science faces growing political, economic, and institutional instability.

“Why aren’t they coming [to Europe] anyway?” asks EMBO’s Maria Leptin.

So — can Europe lead again?

To do so, Europe must:

Break down barriers between national systems — a “Schengen of science.”

Invest in bold, high-risk research with fewer bureaucratic chains.

Attract and retain young scientists with career stability and lab resources.

Position itself as a globally-minded, politically stable home for scientific excellence.

Research is global. But talent flows toward freedom, funding, and vision.

If Europe reclaims its heritage and builds boldly, it can catalyze the next wave of discovery — not by copying the U.S., but by reimagining leadership rooted in depth, collaboration, and purpose.

hashtag#SciencePolicy hashtag#MolecularBiology hashtag#Europe hashtag#STEMLeadership hashtag#ResearchInnovation hashtag#WWIIHistory hashtag#ScientificTalent hashtag#FutureOfScience hashtag#LinkedInScience hashtag#NatureArticle https://lnkd.in/grRPdDbs

US brain drain: Nature’s guide to the initiatives drawing scientists abroad
nature.com