The European Research Council is developing new, longer, larger ‘super grants’ to draw the “very best” scientists.
The Spanish State Research Agency’s ATRAE programme, which is designed to attract international researchers, this year has a focus on US-based scientists. “We’re offering an additional funding of €200,000 for researchers who have been selected and are coming from the US,” Spanish science minister Diana Morant told Nature.
The Dutch Research Council has launched a fund to attract international scientists, regardless of nationality, to continue their work in the Netherlands.
The Research Council of Norway has launched a US$9.5-million scheme to recruit international researchers. The programme welcomes scientists working on climate, health, energy and artificial intelligence (AI).
The Danish Chamber of Commerce has proposed a fast-track programme aimed at bringing up to 200 US researchers — in fields such as quantum technology, robotics and climate research — to Denmark over the next three years.
Austria wants to make it easier for universities to hire US researchers through a proposed amendment to the University Organization Act that would, in some cases, let institutions bypass the requirement to post job advertisements publicly for candidates who have spent at least two years doing research or teaching in the United States. “Austria stands as a bastion of security, favourable conditions, and an unfettered research environment — qualities that are increasingly absent in the United States,” science minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner told Nature.
Paris-Saclay University has deployed several initiatives to support US researchers, including PhD contracts and funded visits for scholars. It also encourages them to apply through existing programmes, including its Alembert research-chair scheme and the Chateaubriand fellowship, and it says that tenure-track positions are on offer.
The Paris Observatory is organizing a “special programme” to welcome USscientists who have lost their jobs or would prefer to work in France.
Aix en Marseilles University in France established the Safe Place For Science programme dedicated to welcoming US scientists in areas including climate, the environment and health. It is assessing its first round of applications.
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is “freeing up funds and establishing a dedicated contact point for American researchers who want to continue their work in Brussels”.
The Joint European Disruptive Initiative, Europe’s high-risk research agency, has launched the Transatlantic Science Fellows scheme to attract ten managers for its moonshot programmes, “starting with scientists from the Americas”, “at a time of global uncertainties”.
The Toronto University Hospital Network has launched Canada Leads, a challenge to recruit 100 early-career scientists working across virology, regenerative medicine and areas “at risk due to shifting research funding landscapes globally”, a spokesperson says. The programme promises 2 years of funding and has received 300 expressions of interest since it was announced on 7 April.
The University of Montreal in Canada has launched a Can$25-million (US$18-million) fundraising campaign to recruit leading and early-career researchers, including those facing pressures in the United States. The programme — which has raised nearly half its funding target — will support researchers in areas such as health, AI, biodiversity and public policy.
The Australian Academy of Science has started a Global Talent Attraction Program to recruit US researchers working in areas of national need. The academy is seeking investors to fund the programme, but “there has been strong interest from US-based researchers and Australians wanting to return home”, says academy president Chennupati Jagadish.
In China, an advertisement began circulating on X in February that said the technology city Shenzhen welcomes “global talents”, especially those dismissed by US institutions, Politico reported. Nature contacted several Chinese institutions to ask whether they were recruiting US scientists but did not receive a response.
