The UK is readying a new scheme designed to attract top international research talent, just as US president Donald Trump cracks down on academic freedom in his own country.
Backed by around £50m in public funding, the initiative will provide research grants and help scientists relocate to Britain, people familiar with the plans tell the Financial Times.
While the timing overlaps with the Trump administration’s aggressive clampdown on science and higher education — including funding cuts and pressure on areas like climate change, diversity and vaccination — UK officials said the idea predated Trump’s latest actions and would be open to researchers from any country.
“We’re open for business on international science,” said the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, adding that it wants “some of the world’s best researchers” to bring their ideas to life in the UK.
The scheme will aim to bring about 10 research teams to the UK, with a view to scaling up further if successful. Selection will focus on the quality of researchers’ work and alignment with UK industrial priorities, such as AI and green energy.
But some are sceptical of the plan. Ben Moore, head of international policy at the Russell Group, told the FT: “International researchers underpin our world-leading R&D excellence.” said Ben Moore, head of international policy at the Russell Group, an association of leading research universities in the UK.
He added: “I would be equally helpful for the government to review the visa costs researchers face, which far exceed those in other leading R&D nations.”
Other countries are also moving to court global scientific talent, capitalising on the growing unrest in US academia. Similar initiatives have been launched in France and the Netherlands, while recent research job ads in Belgium promise recruits freedom from “censorship” and “political interference”.
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