Global competition intensifies for US research talent amid funding uncertainty

As U.S. research institutions face funding uncertainty, countries and universities worldwide are launching initiatives to lure away our scientific talent:

• Twelve EU countries signed a letter calling for dedicated funding and an immigration framework in the next EU budget. Individual countries are taking separate actions.
• Belgium’s Vrije Universiteit Brussel has allocated €2.5 million ($2.7 million) for 12 postdoctoral fellowships specifically targeting American researchers through its European Marie Skłodowska-Curie program.
• France’s Aix-Marseille University created a “Safe Place for Science” program with a three-year, €15 million ($16.1 million) fund to attract approximately 15 US-based scientists. Earlier this month, France’s minister for higher education and research called on the country’s research institutions to send proposals and recommendations for ways to further welcome US researchers.
• The Netherlands recently announced plans for a national fund to attract “international top talent” despite facing education budget cuts of €800 million ($860.4 million) over the next four years.
• Similarly, the UK government recently rejected efforts to reduce financial barriers for international scientists by lowering the country's upfront visa costs.
• Beyond Europe, Hong Kong’s University of Science and Technology is seeing an increased interest from U.S. climate scientists following the recent layoffs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

This international competition for researchers coincides with declining foreign interest in attending U.S. institutions of higher education. Ahead of any actual federal budget cuts, University World News reports a 42% drop in international student interest in U.S. universities since January 2025, potentially accelerating the decline in U.S. market share in global education, as covered by SSTI in our Aug 24, 2023 analysis of international student trends and their economic impact.