Can other countries entice US scientists hit by Trump cuts?
With US researchers facing increased intrusion by the federal government and curbs to funding that have threatened the viability of R&D projects, other countries are hoping to persuade them to relocate elsewhere.
That includes the UK, which is reported to be preparing a new scheme – backed with £50 million ($66.4 million) in funding for research grants and relocation expenses – to attract top talent from overseas academic groups, according to the Financial Times.
Citing people briefed on the plan, the newspaper said the scheme is due to be announced in the next few days and will be open to researchers in other countries as well as the US.
They said the scheme pre-dated the Trump administration's assault on the norms of scientific endeavour in the US, and comes as similar schemes have been launched in France and the Netherlands.
Those actions have included steep cuts to funding of indirect costs borne by research teams – such as maintaining buildings and equipment and paying for administrative personnel – a freeze in funding for dozens of academic institutions for not clamping down on pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus and ending affirmative action policies, and the mass laying off of scientists and technical experts at federal agencies.
Meanwhile, a new policy from the NIH to halt "subawards" for research organisations and hospitals outside the US has also been criticised for threatening critical research programmes, while President Trump's budget request – submitted on Friday – has been criticised for the damage it will cause to the US science base.
Last week, senior Republican Sen Susan Collins criticised the Trump administration for policies that "threaten to undermine the foundation for our nation's global leadership" through sweeping funding cuts, the laying off of essential scientists, and muddled policies.
The new scheme will be directed towards scientific disciplines that are priorities for the UK government's industrial strategy, including life sciences, artificial intelligence, and green energy, and aims to bring in around 10 teams.
"We're open for business on international science," said the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, adding that it wants "some of the world's best researchers" to bring their ideas to life in the UK.
UK wins £500m in EU funding after rejoining Horizon
Meanwhile, there was more encouraging news for the UK's science base after it emerged that the country's research teams have won £500 million in research grants from the EU after being excluded from the €95.5 billion ($108 billion) Horizon Europe scheme as a result of Brexit.
The UK officially rejoined Horizon on January 1, 2024, as an associate country, and is hoping it can continue to vie for a substantial slice of the EU's science funding pot as the European Commission draws up plans for its next funding cycle that starts in 2027, according to a report in The Guardian.
EU data shows nearly 3,000 grants were awarded to British science projects in 2024, according to the report.
