Your brain drain is our brain gain
02 May 2025
A growing wave of European countries are offering “scientific asylum” to US scientists as the Trump administration is limiting academic freedom. Now Norway is joining the choir. Last week, the government announced a fund of 100 million Norwegian kroner (€8.5 million) in the 2026 state budget, with more to come. Part of that money would pay the bills for international researchers relocating to Norway. The country's scientific council will decide how the rest of the money will be spent.
Other European efforts to lure US scientists include the Belgian university Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) opening 12 postdoctoral positions for international researchers – specifically focusing on US scientists in fields threatened by US funding cuts. In France, the Institut Pasteur in Paris is recruiting US researchers, especially in the field of infectious diseases. France's Aix-Marseille University expects to be able to find €15 million to fund research conducted by 15 scientists. The Dutch government has also made promises of a relocation fund.
 | Daniela De Lorenzo The changes to the US research environment are significant. 75% of US scientists responding to a poll in the scientific journal Nature have said that they consider leaving the country. For Norway, like other European countries, the proactive programmes would help support academic freedom, but certainly also boost our own research environments. |
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