25 million to attract threatened top scientists to the Netherlands

Over the coming years, €25 million will be made available to attract scientists from the United States (and other countries) to the Netherlands. This is stated in the ‘supplementary budget’ that the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science has released on Friday. Due to ‘growing global tensions’, more and more scientists are considering relocating to another country, said Minister of Education, Culture and Science Eppo Bruins last month.

The cabinet is allocating €25 million for the fund, according to the supplementary budget that was sent to the Parliament on Friday: €13.5 million this year, followed by €2.6 to €3 million annually over the next four years.

While the fund is not explicitly aimed at the United States, that’s how most people are discussing it. The idea is that, given the anti-science climate in the U.S., top researchers may be inclined to move to the Netherlands.

Appeal to the private sector

The ministry is sourcing the money partly from the ‘wage and price adjustments’ of the European Horizon program. In other words, inflation will not be fully compensated for that program.

Marcel Levi, chairman of the Dutch Research Council (NWO), which will manage the fund, is still looking for unused funds in NWO’s budget to further expand the initiative. He is also appealing to the private sector. According to Levi, bringing a top scientist to the Netherlands costs around €500,000 to €1 million. “So let’s say: with €20 million we can bring in twenty people, with €40 million it would be forty.”

Brain drain risk

U.S. President Donald Trump is cutting billions from research funding in areas such as climate, gender, health, and the environment. Research projects are at risk if they use ‘problematic language’ around diversity, equity, and inclusion. This could result in a brain drain: a mass exodus of scientists to other parts of the world.

European countries like France and Germany are already working hard to attract international scientific talent. At the European level, there are also plans to welcome scientists. (HOP, BB)