By HeapNews
Norway has unveiled a new initiative aimed at attracting top international researchers, responding to growing concerns over academic freedom in the United States under the Trump administration. The 100 million kroner (£7.2 million) scheme, launched by the Research Council of Norway on Wednesday, is open to researchers worldwide but was accelerated following recent U.S. funding cuts to higher education and research.
“It is important for Norway to be proactive in a demanding situation for academic freedom,” said Sigrun Aasland, Norway’s Minister for Research and Higher Education. “We can make a difference for outstanding researchers and important knowledge, and we want to do that as quickly as possible.”
The program, set to run through 2026, will fund research in key areas such as climate, health, energy, and artificial intelligence. A call for proposals is expected to be issued next month.
Aasland highlighted the precarious environment currently facing many U.S.-based researchers: “Academic freedom is under pressure in the US, and it is an unpredictable position for many researchers in what has been the world’s leading knowledge nation for many decades.”
Mari Sundli Tveit, CEO of the Research Council of Norway, echoed these concerns. Speaking to national broadcaster NRK, she said, “This is particularly relevant to the situation in the US. Academic freedom is under pressure and funding is being cut.”
Norway’s move follows similar actions across Europe. France’s Aix-Marseille University recently received nearly 300 applications from U.S.-based academics after offering sanctuary, and Belgium’s Vrije Universiteit Brussel has opened new postdoctoral positions targeted at American researchers. The Netherlands has also announced plans to launch a dedicated fund for international academic recruitment.
The Norwegian government’s announcement comes just ahead of a high-level visit to the White House by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, with discussions expected to cover trade, security, and international cooperation, including in science and research.