EU to support scientists at risk

Germany's DAAD, in partnership with Campus France, Collège de France and UNIMED, is launching a pilot European programme to support scientists at risk. The Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS) will be an associate partner in the project.

The European Union has earmarked €12 million for the project. The initiative called "Supporting At-risk researchers with Fellowships in Europe" (SAFE) will support up to 60 scientists who are unable to work freely in their home country over three years.

Up to two-year fellowships will be open to both scientists with third-country citizenship who are currently outside the EU as well as researchers who have refugee status in the EU or who are applying for or have already been granted a temporary residence permit in an EU Member State. Both PhD candidates and postdocs are eligible. Only institutions based in the EU are allowed to host fellows.

Detailed guidelines for applicants will be available from mid-October on the initiative's website. The call for applications itself will be published on 18 November 2024. The deadline for applications has been set for 20 January 2025 inclusive. SAFE will also soon launch a matchmaking portal to connect at-risk scientists with interested host institutions.