ACA member, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is launching the "Supporting at-risk researchers with fellowships in Europe" (SAFE) programme in partnership with Campus France, the Collège de France, and the Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED). This initiative will enable up to 60 at-risk international academics to continue their research within the EU. The European Commission has allocated around twelve million euros to fund the programme until 2027.

Academic freedom is severely restricted in 27 countries, affecting approximately 3.6 billion people worldwide, according to the Academic Freedom Index. The SAFE programme aims to provide a safe environment for these at-risk researchers to pursue their work at European universities and research institutions. The programme will begin in September, with the first researchers expected to arrive in the EU by spring 2025. European universities can nominate researchers from non-EU countries, while individual applications directly to DAAD are not accepted. Non-EU citizens already recognised as refugees in the EU may also be nominated through EU universities.

Read more in DAAD’s press release.