Austria announced it has recruited 25 American academics from prestigious institutions such as Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Princeton, taking advantage of the Trump administration's cuts to higher education and research funding.
These researchers, ranging from young postdoctoral fellows to senior professors, will receive grants of €500,000 each over two years. They will work in a variety of disciplines, including physics, chemistry, and life sciences, the Austrian Academy of Sciences announced Thursday.
"Thanks to Trump for this brain gain," quipped Heinz Fassmann, president of the Academy. He called the arrival of these scientists "a great victory for Austrian science," bringing new ideas, different perspectives, and international networks.
In the United States, Donald Trump has increased restrictions and budget cuts targeting universities, particularly in response to pro-Palestinian protests against the war in Gaza, transgender policies, climate initiatives, and diversity and inclusion programs.
The White House, however, affirmed that the United States would remain the world's largest contributor to research funding despite these cuts. But for Vienna, this situation has opened up a unique opportunity to strengthen its scientific appeal internationally.
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Austria announced that it has recruited 25 American academics from prestigious institutions such as Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
