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#News
17.04.2026
International programs seek scientific talent in response to US budget cuts
Initiatives in countries such as Germany, France, and Brazil are increasing their support for US-based researchers seeking a more stable environment
Programs in countries such as Germany, France, and Brazil are offering funding to attract researchers affected by instability in the US scientific system | Image: Unsplash
In 2018, Sevgi Kafali made a major life change: the Turkish researcher left her native country to pursue a PhD in bioengineering and biomedical engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the USA. The cultural differences required a period of adaptation, but UCLA was the right place to further her studies in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—the central theme of her research.
Years later, Kafali moved again, this time motivated by a new interest: combining discussions about artificial intelligence with her MRI research.
In December 2024, she relocated to Germany to work with Daniel Rückert, a professor whose academic background aligns with the focus of her work.
Initially, Kafali received funding from Professor Rückert’s laboratory. That changed in July 2025, when she was awarded a fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, a German institution that funds international scientists interested in conducting research in the country.
Germany launches program to attract global talent
Kafali’s fellowship is funded by the Global Minds Initiative, a program run by Germany’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Space, and created to attract scientific talent to Germany.
The initiative operates through established German institutions, including the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, expanding existing funding programs. In 2025 alone, 156 fellowships and awards were granted by the Global Minds Initiative.
In a statement published on the program’s website, the German ministry explains the motivations behind the initiative: “Particularly in view of the mounting pressure on the freedom of science in many places, Germany continues to be an attractive destination for researchers from all over the world in times of global polarization.”
In an interview with Science Arena, Kafali acknowledged the changing global landscape.
“If I compare the period when I did my PhD during Trump’s first term and the current situation, I would say that things are very different. Now, federal funding has been cut or eliminated, but that was not a risk in the past,” says the Turkish researcher.
Europe mobilizes resources and creates support programs
Kafali’s perception reflects a broader trend. Since 2025, several initiatives have emerged with the goal of providing funding and infrastructure for scientists seeking more stable environments.
France is another example. Aix-Marseille University, in the country’s south, created a program called Safe Place for Science, specifically aimed at US scientists whose “academic freedom is under threat.”
With a budget of €15 million, the program received 298 applications in its first round, initially selecting 39 candidates.
Other countries have launched similar initiatives during this period:
- Max Planck Transatlantic Program — Germany
- Austrian Future Fund — Austria
- Choose France for Science — France
- Catalunya Talent Bridge — Spain
- Talented Researchers to Norway — Norway
Demand exceeds expectations
The volume of applications suggests that researchers are actively seeking alternatives. Maria Mota, director of the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM) in Portugal, experienced this firsthand after issuing an international call for entries.
“It was the first time we opened international applications for group leaders. With more than two months to go before the deadline, we had already received 172—far more than expected,” Mota told Science Arena.
She also noted that 41% of the applicants were early-career researchers based in the United States—not necessarily Americans, but postdoctoral researchers who, under normal circumstances, would likely remain in the country to lead research groups.
“I think that under normal circumstances, many of them would stay there to take the lead in a research group, but now they cannot do that,” says Mota.
“In my opinion, the European Union should be saying, ‘based on what is happening in the US, let’s increase funding here so that major European universities can attract the best talent’,” suggests the director of the Gulbenkian Institute of Molecular Medicine in Portugal.
In May 2025, Mota published an article in Nature calling for European institutions to take coordinated, orchestrated action to seize the opportunity. She maintains her position, arguing that the European Union should act collectively to expand the funding available at its leading universities.
Brazil creates new programs to repatriate and attract researchers
Brazil has also responded to the situation. The São Paulo State Research Foundation (FAPESP) launched two programs based on discussions that began in mid-February 2025, when the second Trump administration began signaling that cuts would be made to American science.
“In that context, various people from FAPESP and São Paulo’s state universities saw what was happening and said: ‘Look, there is going to be significant demand and we might well find ourselves able to attract talent—Brazilian or otherwise—from abroad’,” says Leandro Machado Colli, advisor to FAPESP’s scientific board and a professor of oncology at the University of São Paulo (USP).
The first program, called InTheGra (International Thematic Grant) and aimed at scientists with established careers abroad, is unprecedented in Brazil. Out of 60 applications, eight candidates were selected.
Recipients receive a 24-month fellowship equivalent to the salary of a professor in the state of São Paulo. The expectation is that during this period, the researcher will establish a connection with a higher education institution, ensuring continuity for research projects planned to last five years.
The second program, the Young International Researcher award, is directed at early-career scientists working abroad. After receiving 120 applications, the program offered five-year fellowships to 20 selected participants.
“I have no doubt that reduced incentives in the US made it easier for us to attract talent and achieve good numbers in both these programs,” says Leandro Machado Colli, from FAPESP.
In both programs, he explains, there was significant participation from Brazilians living abroad, especially in the US. But there was also interest from researchers of other nationalities, including from other Latin American countries.
At the national level, the Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (CAPES) is also monitoring the situation.
In a statement, the agency said that circumstances like these “tend to influence career decisions and academic cooperation,” creating opportunities to strengthen or expand connections between Brazil and other countries.
Within this context, the CAPES Global.Edu Program was established in March 2025 to encourage the creation of collaborative links between higher education institutions. The aim is to strengthen Brazil’s scientific position on the international stage. According to the first call for proposals, more than R$1 billion could be allocated through the program.
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