The US National Science Foundation (NSF) is poised to award the fewest new grants in four decades, following a decision to withhold $1 billion for the White House’s Grand Research Challenges initiative and withdraw funding recommendations for over 150 peer-reviewed proposals. This reduction in funding coincides with an expansion of research support in China, where the National Natural Science Foundation of China will increase the number of grants offered to early-career scientists by 50% this year.
This divergence marks a significant shift in the global research landscape. The NSF’s actions are driving international talent and collaboration away from the United States, prompting calls for alternative research hubs in Europe and Asia. Experts suggest coordinated action, such as joint emergency fellowship schemes, could mitigate the potential loss of a generation of internationally mobile researchers.
The situation necessitates a more balanced and diversified global funding landscape, ensuring the research enterprise is not overly reliant on a single nation. According to *Nature*, a more balanced system is “no longer aspirational; it is essential.”
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