Amid financial cuts to research in the United States under President Donald Trump, an economics expert suggests that Germany needed to seize the opportunity to recruit top scientists from the U.S.
In an interview with the Funke Media Group published on Thursday, an economics professor at the University of California, Ulrike Malmendier, said Mr Trump’s administration had caused “great concern for scientific freedom and reliable financial support” in the US.
“The development in the U.S. is a huge opportunity for Germany and Europe. I know that a lot of people are thinking about leaving,” she said.
Ms Malmendier drew a historical parallel, recalling how in the 1930s; many scientists fled Nazi Germany, contributing to the rise of the U.S. as a global leader in scientific research.
“Now we can reverse that,” Ms Malmendier said.
Acknowledging that German universities cannot easily compete with elite U.S. institutions in terms of research conditions, Ms Malmendier emphasised that the time was ripe for change.
She called for substantial investment in Germany’s scientific infrastructure, particularly in fields where the country already excels, such as artificial intelligence, life sciences, and climate technology.
She added, “We could attract the attention of the best researchers and shift the balance to Europe.’’
Asked if Trump aimed to end free science, the economist responded, “I fear so – particularly regarding diversity and equality. The impact on science and the economy is devastating.”