Trump has cut budgets, laid off employees, and pressured universities. Now Norway wants to attract researchers who have poor conditions abroad.
The Research Council prioritizes and allocates funds on behalf of the state.
Now they are allocating 100 million kroner to attract foreign researchers to Norway.
The Managing Director of the Research Council, Mari Sundli Tveit, is clear about the backdrop.
– It is particularly related to the situation in the USA. Academic freedom is under pressure and funding is being cut, says Tveit.
The new scheme allows Norwegian institutions to apply for support to bring in international researchers.
The work around the new scheme was both expanded and expedited when the Trump administration introduced significant cuts to American research in March.
Tveit emphasizes that the arrangement will not be reserved for researchers from the USA.
According to Tveit, many of those who have been laid off in the USA are researching areas such as climate, health, and the Arctic.
– These are areas where it is extremely important for us to ensure that the activity continues. And connecting the researchers to us is a very, very good idea, says Tveit.
Lists with "illegal words"
She is concerned about what she sees as an attack on research in the USA. Among other things, in the form of restrictions on specific research topics.
– There are lists of forbidden words, that is, prohibited words that cannot be included in research applications, says Tveit.
She points to words like "woman," "black," and "climate change."
In addition, the Research Council is concerned about a lot of important research data that is stored in the USA. This includes important research data and results on climate change and health.
– If there is a breach in that data, it will cause irreparable damage. And we are very concerned about that. Right now, we are looking for ways to move data to store it safely elsewhere, says Tveit.
Great need for expertise
Research and Education Minister Sigrun Aasland (Ap) has been a driving force behind the new scheme.
– In Norway, we have a great need for expertise in the coming years, including in research, Aasland explains.
She makes it clear, like Tveit, that the scheme should not be limited to researchers from the USA.
As the situation stands now, Aasland believes there is an increased need for such schemes.
– But is it wise to launch this scheme in the same week that Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg are set to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House?
– This is not an American scheme, but a global one. Also, an important reason why we are so focused on collaboration with the USA in research is that they are an outstanding research nation. They account for a significant amount of the world's knowledge about health, climate, and energy, Aasland responds and adds:
– We have extensive collaboration with American researchers, and we want to continue that.
Positive for Norwegian research
The Research Council estimates that the funds can cover 30 to 50 research positions. The researchers will be recruited to both colleges and universities in Norway.
The rector of UiO, Svein Stølen, is positive about the new arrangement.
– This is very interesting. It can bring us truly top researchers from other countries, says Stølen.
The rector believes this could have a significant impact on Norwegian and European research.
– We see that there are challenges in the USA, where China is advancing. The fact that Europe is stepping up is important, continues Stølen.
The rector of the University of Bergen, Margareth Hagen, is also positive about the new arrangement.
– The consequences for us are significant. It concerns the fact that about 22 percent of the research at UiB is conducted in collaboration with American researchers. So it is clear that what is happening in the USA affects us quite immediately, says Hagen.
She points out that the collaboration with American research environments spans the entire breadth of UiB's academic fields.
– UiB is particularly known for strong climate research and also for a lot of research on global health, where Americans are at the forefront.
(Translated by Kagi)
Who's going to be left to innovate? Even Conservative scientists (few as they may be) are hurt by the Trump admin and its attacks on science, so it's just going to be the idiots and the religious zealots left.
Hope the billionaires are happy with the returns on their "investment." /s