Norway has launched a new initiative aimed at attracting top international researchers, responding to growing concerns about academic freedom in the United States. This ambitious scheme, which will roll out over 10 years, allocates 100 million kroner for installation as early as 2026. Sigrun Aasland, Norway’s Minister for Research and Higher Education, echoed the need to be proactive. She pointed out the toxic effects of the prevailing academic environment.
The new initiative will prioritize fundings in research to tackle major interdisciplinary areas such as climate, health, energy and AI. In April, the Research Council of Norway will release its next call for full proposals. They are actively recruiting scholars from across the world to join in this exciting movement. Aasland highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating, “It is important for Norway to be proactive in a demanding situation for academic freedom. We can make a difference for outstanding researchers and important knowledge, and we want to do that as quickly as possible.”
Norway kicked off its initiative partly in response to these recent steps taken in the U.S. Unfortunately, academic freedom there has been under severe attack. Aasland noted that “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.” This context has rendered the Norwegian initiative especially appealing to those who find themselves increasingly anxious about their own future within American institutions.
Mari Sundli Tveit, the chief executive of the Research Council of Norway, remarked on the relevance of this scheme, stating, “This is particularly relevant to the situation in the US. Academic freedom is under pressure and funding is being cut.” The initiative provides a collegial and judgement-free space for researchers. It empowers them to advocate for and ultimately achieve more stability and freedom in their own work.
Norway’s announcement coincides with an upcoming visit to the White House by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg. This timing would have added to the international mantle of Norway’s apparent determination to create a thriving research ecosystem, in the face of increased global competition. Other countries, like France, Belgium, and the Netherlands have recently taken similar steps to recruit researchers. To take one example, France saw close to 300 applications received by Aix-Marseille University since it opened its doors to U.S.-based researchers.
In Belgium, Vrije Universiteit Brussel has developed two new posts explicitly aimed at attracting American scholars. At the same time, the Netherlands is working on starting up a fund specifically aimed at bringing researchers from outside. These efforts indicate a broader trend among European nations to position themselves as appealing alternatives for academics facing uncertainty in their home institutions.