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The UK government is preparing to launch a scheme to woo international research talent to Britain in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on academic freedom in America.
The initiative will be backed by about £50mn in government money to fund research grants and relocation, according to people briefed on the plans. They said the scheme is set to be announced in the coming days,
The Trump administration has launched an unprecedented crackdown on science and universities in the US, seeking to slash federal funding and suppress research into subjects including diversity, vaccination and climate change.
The effort by Sir Keir Starmer’s government to attract international talent has its roots before Trump took office in January and would be open to scientists from any country, the people briefed on the plans said.
The scheme will assess researchers on their output and how their work fits with priority areas in the UK industrial strategy, including life sciences, artificial intelligence and green energy.
Initially the scheme will aim to relocate about 10 teams of researchers to the UK. If the system is deemed a success, it could be expanded, the people said.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said the UK was “open for business on international science” and wanted to help “some of the world’s best researchers bring their ideas to life here”. It would “set out further plans in due course”, it added.
The scheme will test the UK’s attractiveness to international scientists and reignite debate on whether the government needs to change other policies to make the country a compelling destination.
Research institutions and peers have in particular criticised visa costs for scientists, which are much higher than in other industrialised countries.
The UK’s immigration system amounted to an “act of national self-harm” because it deterred science students and early career researchers, the House of Lords science and technology committee warned in February
“International researchers underpin our world-leading R&D excellence and additional funding will help attract talented global researchers,” said Ben Moore, head of international policy at the Russell Group of leading research institutions.
“It would be equally as helpful for government to review the visa costs researchers face, which far exceed those in other leading R&D nations,” he added.
Other countries have launched similar schemes for international talent, as the turmoil in US science has led researchers there to explore opportunities elsewhere.
Last month, Canada announced an initiative called Canada Leads 100 Challenge to attract 100 early-career scientists, particularly from the US, to its research facilities and hospitals.
Norway also launched a scheme to help recruit researchers from overseas, to work in the fields of climate, health, energy and artificial intelligence.
France is also this month launching a platform called “Choose France for Science” to attract international scientists, notably from the US, to work in the fields of health, climate change and digital technologies.
