Netherlands launches fund to lure top scientists, like those fleeing the U.S.
Netherlands launches fund to lure top scientists, like those fleeing the U.S.
As political pressures and funding cuts drive some researchers out of the United States, the Netherlands is moving to position itself as a refuge for top scientific talent. Education Minister Eppo Bruins (NSC) announced the creation of a fund to attract leading international scientists, urging swift...
While the fund is open to researchers of all nationalities, it appears to be a direct response to growing concerns among American scientists about the tightening restrictions on academic freedom under President Donald Trump. Researchers in the U.S. have raised alarms over increasing government censorship, political interference in fields like climate science and gender studies, and tighter controls on scientific communication. France has already launched a program to lure disillusioned American scientists, and the Netherlands now aims to follow suit.
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Dutch universities have already expressed interest in recruiting American researchers. The Universities of the Netherlands (UNL), which represents the country’s 14 public universities, confirmed they are exploring ways to bring in U.S. scientists. “It seems like a good idea to us,” a UNL spokesperson said, emphasizing that strengthening Dutch innovation is a priority. The universities also see it as a way to stand in solidarity with American academics facing restrictions.
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