Attracting Talent: Germany's New Plan to Woo Top International Researchers
International researcher recruitment initiative in the works led by Dorothee Bär
Wanna work in a land that values your brain and whole family? Germany's gotcha!
Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär is cookin' up a new program to magnetize top researchers from abroad. In a casual chat with Handelsblatt, she spilled the beans on Thursday, "We gotta think outside the box and offer researchers and their families more than just a job, but a blasted homestead!"
Now, the nudge behind this move is the science and research landscape in the US, where the current administration under President Trump is slammin' universities like Harvard. Cuts in funding worth billions and restrictions on new international students? Say whaaaaat? That's not all! A possible exodus of students and scholars from the 'Merica as well as the globe ain't off the table.
But Germany ain't braggin' about burnin' a hole in their pockets with top dollar salaries. Research Minister Bär acknowledges this pitfall. But hey, who gives a flying fig? The key isn't about $$$$, but freedom, baby! Germany offers "unconditional academic freedom," as Bär puts it.
The minister is championing to beef up grants for the state-funded Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the German Research Foundation. How? Through scholarships and research programs, of course!
Now, the scene ain't just about Deutschland, but the EU. Germany's part of broader European initiatives to lure the brightest minds and deepest pockets. The European Commission, for instance, has announced a fabulous 500 million Euro package between 2025 and 2027 to entice researchers to Europe.
And what about our Boys and Girls 'Murica? Well, Bavaria's Prime Minister, Markus Soeder, is pullin' a spectacular move. He's planned to build an "exile campus" for Harvard students in Bavaria, offering a lifeline to students hit by Trump's restrictions on international student visas.
Oh, and don't forget about post-doctoral researchers. Germany's gotta a DAAD PRIME program on the low, fundin' these badass scholars for international mobility—a 12-month research adventure abroad followed by an epic return to Deutschland, supportin' their career growth in the German science scene.
So why Germany, you ask? Is it the history, the beer, or the bratwurst? Well, maybe it's the freedom—or maybe it's just the commitment to supportin' your family while you're gettin' smart. Regardless, Germany's ready to give contenders like the US a run for their money in the talent game.
[1] Die Presse, (2020), “Deutschland richtet Departures-Initiative für US-Studenten ein.” Retrieved from https://de.news.yahoo.com/deutschland-richt-departures-initiative-f%C3%BCr-054439647.html
[2] Financial Times, (2017), “Harvard study: Overseas students generate $40bn for US economy.” Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/content/3487be94-8e38-11e7-8ce3-aac950c55428
[3] Communia, (2020), “EU to allocate €500 million for Open Science between 2025 and 2027.” Retrieved from https://www.communia-association.org/news/eu-to-allocate-%C2%A2500-million-for-open-science-between-2025-and-2027/
[4] DAAD, (n.d.), “PRIME.” Retrieved from https://www.daad.de/deutschland/studieren-in-deutschland/stipendien/postdoc/prime/08341-13434.html
- With a commitment to academic freedom and family support, Germany's new policy initiatives, such as the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and German Research Foundation grants, and programs like the DAAD PRIME, aim to lure top international researchers by offering more than just employment, but a home and a nurturing environment for self-development and growth in education and self-development.
- As part of the broader European approach to attract talent, Germany is establishing a strong voice in policy and legislation, not just to compete with the US in funds and salaries, but also to assert itself as a political and intellectual hub where researchers can thrive, shaped by the principles of policy-and-legislation and general-news.
