In fresh years, the United States, the erstwhile leader in discipline and innovation, has begun to lose its position to China. Proposed by Donald Trump's administration drastic budget cuts in key technological agencies specified as National Institutes of wellness (NIH) is NASA, caused frustration in the academic community. Meanwhile, China has consistently increased investment in R & D, aiming to become a global discipline and technology hub already to 2035 (according to government plans). Europe, following these changes, is trying to attract researchers and keep competitiveness.
US cuts and consequences:
Trump's proposal to reduce backing NIH o 37%, a National discipline Foundation – o over 50%.
NASA is to focus on the space race with China, at the expense of climate investigation and basic sciences.
Scientists, specified as evolutionary microbiologist Vaughn Cooper, are informing that the US is losing its leadership position – R&D spending has fallen to 0.7% of GDP (in 1964, they were 1.9%).
Test Nature (March 2025) indicates that 75% of American scientists considers emigration, mainly to Europe and Canada.
China: A fresh Global discipline Hub?
W 2022. China surpassed the US in the number of publications in prestigious magazines with Nature Index.
January 2025 South China Morning Post He reported that China already had More high-level experts in discipline and technology than the US.
They invest in megaprojects, specified as:
space station Tiangong,
the largest radio telescope FAST,
Neutrin Observatory Jiangmen (completed in 2025).
World-class scientists are moving to China, e.g. Charles Lieber (Harvard) who joined Tsinghua University.
Plan China:
The Chinese Government assumes that to 2035. the country will become global innovation leadera to 2049. – “World-class technological and technological power” (Made in China 2025 and further strategies).
Europe: Between Cooperation and Competition
European Commission launched the programme “Choose Europe for Science” with budget EUR 500 millionto attract researchers.
Ursula von der Leyen stresses that Europe wants to be a leader in AI, quantum technologies, biotechnology and space research.
Historical lesson: before planet War II, Europe lost scientists (e.g. Albert Einstein left for the US). present he may regain his position, but he needs larger investments.
China's future and Europe's dilemma
China is betting on discipline as The pillar of economical and political development. Their success depends on:
continuous backing of research,
international cooperation (e.g. exchange programmes with Europe),
openness to abroad experts.
Europe has a choice:
Cooperation with China – the usage of their achievements, but the hazard of technological dependence.
Road USA – protectionism and competition, which can slow progress.
The optimal solution seems to be a sustainable strategy: competing in key technologies (e.g. semiconductors), but besides cooperating where this is the consequence of multiple, common benefits (e.g. climate change, medicine).
Source:
- South China Morning Post (10.05.2025), “US discipline foundation cuts push researchers to console leaving”
- Nature (March 2025), “Poll: 75% of US scientists may emigrate amid budget cuts”
- Made in China 2025 – Government Technology improvement Strategy
- European Commission (2025), “Choose Europe for Science”
Leszek B. Glass
Email: [email protected]
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