American scholars flock to Europe amid tightening government policies

The European Union (EU) is witnessing a sharp increase in research funding applications from American scholars, as many US-based researchers seek opportunities abroad to cope with President Donald Trump's policies of cutting and tightening academic freedom.

Applications for funding to the EU's flagship research and innovation programmes have hit record levels this year, with US applications to a key fund tripling compared to 2024.

“We are not celebrating what is happening to scientists , but we want to give those scientists the opportunity to continue their work,” said Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU representative for research.

The Trump administration's policies — including cutting billions of dollars in federal funding to universities and eliminating budgets for research on issues such as climate change, diversity and equity — are plunging America's higher education system into crisis.

Washington also imposed stricter regulations on transparency of international funding and intellectual property controls, putting pressure on many major academic institutions, especially Harvard University.

This trend has had serious consequences - the traditional flow of brainpower from Europe to the US is showing signs of reversing.

Universities like Aix-Marseille (France) are now becoming “scientific havens” for American scholars. In addition, applications for funding from the European Research Council (ERC), the EU’s basic research funding organization, and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA), the EU’s initiative for doctoral and postdoctoral research, reached a record high in 2025.

Specifically, ERC grants for young researchers saw a 22% increase in applications compared to last year, with a record 4,807 proposals. Nearly 250 of these came from outside Europe, including 169 from the US – almost triple the number in 2024. ERC grants for more senior researchers increased by 31% compared to last year and 82% compared to 2023.

Meanwhile, MSCA postdoctoral fellowships received 17,058 applications – the highest number for any funding initiative in the 40-year history of the EU’s research framework programmes. Around 50% of these applications came from researchers working outside the EU, reflecting a strong increase from the US and other regions.

Zaharieva said the increased interest from researchers in Europe is part of the “Choose Europe” strategy, launched in May, to help innovative companies operate and grow in the bloc. In parallel, the EU is also preparing to set up a Scaleup Europe fund to invest in strategic technology companies in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, semiconductors and biotechnology.

Potential investors include Novo Holdings, EIFO (Denmark) and Criteria Caixa (Spain). The fund is expected to launch in spring 2026, with an initial size of 2.5 billion euros ($2.9 billion) and could increase to 5 billion euros ($5.7 billion) in later stages.

If the Trump administration's cuts continue, the United States could face long-term scientific and economic losses equivalent to a major recession, weakening its scientific leadership and creating an opportunity for Europe to fill the gap, experts warn.

In this context, the EU is not only expanding funding but also building a sustainable innovation ecosystem, attracting global talent to promote economic growth and address global challenges./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/gioi-hoc-gia-my-do-sang-chau-au-giua-cac-chinh-sach-siet-chat-cua-chinh-quyen-post1074672.vnp