Why are leading US researchers moving to China?
Francis Bacon once wrote, ‘Knowledge is power’. Today, almost 400 years after his declaration, the words resonate with undeniable truth. In the 21st century, the contest for knowledge’s power is intensifying among nations. In the aftermath of World War II, the United States became a magnet for leading scientists from around the world. However, currently, a significant number are relocating to China. The transition from Nobel laureates to emerging talent in mathematics and data science underscores China’s ascent in the scientific arena and the hurdles faced by America.
Consider Liu Jun, a prominent statistician and Harvard professor for many years. According to the South China Morning Post, he has recently returned to China and taken a chair at Tsinghua University. Liu possesses an extensive background in data science, biostatistics, and artificial intelligence, having made significant contributions in the realms of big data and machine learning. Liu began his academic journey in the United States at Rutgers University in the late 1980s before moving on to the University of Chicago. His reverse migration is associated with China’s increasing research capabilities and the funding cuts at Harvard, where projects were suspended following the Trump administration’s freeze on grants in April 2020. The difficulties encountered by Liu illustrate the wider forces pushing scientists to leave the United States. Decreased funding, more stringent immigration regulations, and escalating political pressures have complicated the ability of researchers to engage in their work there.
A survey conducted by the Nature journal in March this year revealed that three-quarters of researchers based in the US were contemplating leaving the country. The poll revealed a rise in applications for jobs overseas, with China and Europe standing out as prominent destinations. The European Union has committed €500 million to draw in researchers, highlighting the fierce global competition for scientific talent. Observers caution that reductions in the US budget for climate and environmental research could lead to enduring repercussions, potentially undermining its position as a global leader in science and technology. Liu Jun exemplifies a wider movement. In recent years, numerous prominent scholars have departed from US institutions to join Chinese universities. Yang Dan, a neuroscientist who previously held a position at the University of California, Berkeley, made her return to Beijing in 2024 to further her research endeavors. Harvard nanochemist Charles Lieber, who was convicted in the US for not disclosing Chinese funding, took on a role at Tsinghua University in May this year to spearhead nanoscience projects.
Mathematician Sun Song, formerly a professor at the University of Berkeley and regarded as a formidable candidate for the Fields Medal (the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for Mathematics), made the move to Zhejiang University in 2024. Prior to his arrival, Zhejiang had also brought on board University of Michigan geometer Ruan Yongbin and Harvard number theorist Liu Yifei. In October of last year, French physicist and Nobel laureate Gerard Mourou took on a chair professorship at Peking University, where he is responsible for establishing a new physics institute aimed at fostering global collaboration. Additionally, nanotechnology pioneer Wang Zhonglin, recognized as the “father of nanogenerators,” transitioned to a full-time role in China in 2023, assuming leadership of the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems. His work has extensive applications in medicine, energy, industry, and defense. A study conducted by Stanford University earlier in 2024 revealed a significant rise in the number of scientists of Chinese descent departing from the US since 2010.
The study observed that the trend intensified following the introduction of the ‘China Initiative’ in 2018, a program by the US Department of Justice designed to combat ‘economic espionage’ (theft of trade secrets, intellectual property, and confidential business information). Although the majority of cases under the initiative were dismissed due to insufficient evidence, the investigation instilled a chilling effect, leading numerous researchers to confront inquiries, professional obstacles, and financial difficulties. The Stanford team reported that since the initiative began, there has been a 75 per cent increase in the number of Chinese-origin scientists departing from the US. Researchers also observed that while China’s investment in science and appealing compensation packages function as significant “pull factors,” the China Initiative acted as a prominent “push factor” driving talent away from the US. Franklin Feng Tao, a former chemist at the University of Kansas, was acquitted of his final conviction in 2024 following a protracted five-year legal struggle; however, the cases stemming from the program have left enduring impacts.
His case underscored the detrimental impact of prosecutions on careers and the chilling effect they had on collaboration between US and Chinese institutions. Despite the programme being formally discontinued in 2022, its influence persists, affecting the choices made by researchers of Chinese descent. According to Stanford researchers, an estimated 20,000 scientists have departed from the US since 2010, derived from an analysis of more than 200 million academic publications. The movement of scientists highlights the ways in which international competition for talent is transforming research environments. China’s substantial investment in science and technology, along with efforts to attract international scholars, has garnered interest from leading figures in various fields.
