Austria continues to actively attract American scientists whose academic careers have suffered because of the Donald Trump administration’s higher education and research policies.
The APART-USA program, launched by the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) on July 4, 2025, has already yielded significant results. By September 2025, 25 leading researchers from prestigious American universities—including Harvard, MIT, Princeton, and others—had been selected. Each received a €500,000 grant for two to four years to continue their work in Austria. The researchers relocated to universities and research centers in Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Linz, and Salzburg, working in the fields of physics, chemistry, computer science, biomedicine, cultural studies, and the humanities.
The Ministry of Women, Science, and Research, led by Eva-Maria Holzleitner, has set a goal of recruiting at least 50 American academics within a year. Half of the places will be awarded through accelerated appointments to professors without lengthy competition, and the other half through fellowships for postdoctoral and mid-career researchers. By October 2025, 26 relocations had already been recorded, and the process continues.
Austria positions itself as a “safe haven” for science: free from political interference, censorship of “woke” research, grant freezes for ideological reasons, and threats of deportation of foreign researchers. The Euraxess Austria platform provides comprehensive information on job openings, visas, residence permits, funding, and housing. The program is partially funded by funds inherited from the Marshall Plan, adding to the symbolism of Europe “repaying its debt” to American science.
ÖAW President Heinz Fassmann wryly remarked, “Thanks to Trump for this brain gain.” Minister Holzleitner emphasized, “In an era when political interference and authoritarian tendencies increasingly threaten academic freedom, Austria stands firmly on the side of science and democracy.”
Many scientists note that in Austria, they can work peacefully without fear of sudden project closure or political interference in their research.
This is part of a broader European trend: France, Germany, Spain, and other countries are also launching “scientific asylum” programs. However, Austria stands out for its speed of implementation and generous grants. According to experts, the “brain gain” from the US could become one of Austria’s most significant scientific acquisitions in recent decades—and a direct consequence of Trump’s policies toward universities and federal science funding.