Japan to pump in $700 million to attract talent, as Trump makes it tougher for academics

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The Japanese government has announced a ¥100 billion ($700 million) funding fillip for top-tier researchers from around the world, including those leaving the United States due to funding cuts and stricter immigration policies. 

The initiative is the east Asian country's effort to enhance its global competitiveness in critical fields such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors.

According to Kyodo News, Japan's Science and Technology Policy Minister Minoru Kiuchi said the country is determined to become "the most attractive in the world for researchers." 

He made the remarks as he outlined an approach that includes salary hikes, reduced administrative burdens, and upgraded research infrastructure.

Funding will be supported by profits from a ¥10 trillion investment fund established to help universities produce cutting-edge research.

One major component includes a plan by Tohoku University to spend ¥30 billion to recruit approximately 500 researchers, both domestic and international. 

Another includes the creation of new research hubs as part of an education ministry project to stimulate elite scientific output.

The initiative comes as Japan seeks to capitalise on a growing outflow of global talent from the United States. 

The Trump administration's sweeping policy changes vis-a-vis foreign students, especially at elite academic institutions, have sparked concern among international students and researchers.

Many of these policies call for domestic enrollment at the expense of foreign talent and significantly reduced federal funding for key research programs.

These measures have had a chilling effect on US universities, particularly in STEM fields, with students and early-career researchers from countries like India, China, and Iran facing heightened visa scrutiny and uncertainty. 

Universities reported difficulties in recruiting and retaining foreign scholars, prompting fears that the US could lose its edge as a global research leader.

Kiuchi said that alongside attracting foreign researchers, the government will explore long-term strategies to retain talent through improved working conditions and access to cutting-edge technologies.

Despite Japan's efforts, challenges remain.

A recent report by a government-affiliated education institute revealed that Japan ranked just 13th globally in the number of highly cited scientific papers last year — a record low that underscores the urgent need for reform and renewed investment in science and innovation.