The Danish Chamber of Commerce and the Engineering Association IDA believe that Denmark should take advantage of the "chaotic conditions at American universities" and attract American researchers to Denmark. This is stated in a joint appeal from the two organizations. According to CEO of the Danish Chamber of Commerce Brian Mikkelsen, this could be a huge win for Denmark.
- Right now there is a unique window to attract the most talented researchers in the world, says Mikkelsen.
Brian Mikkelsen has recently returned from the United States, where he spoke with a number of political representatives in Washington D.C. He says that "there are many American researchers who feel their freedom of research is threatened". He points out that it could be a gain to attract researchers from elite universities such as Harvard, Stanford and MIT.
- If we can lure them to Denmark, we will create more innovation in Denmark, and we will make Denmark richer and have more opportunities to create new companies in Denmark.
- So it is win, win, win for everyone. For the researchers and for Denmark, says Mikkelsen.
Specifically, the goal is to attract up to 200 research talents from the USA over the next three years within IT, technology, natural sciences and health. IDA's chairman, Laura Klitgaard, also believes that Denmark owes it to the American researchers to tell them that there are alternatives to the research environment they are in right now.
- The Danish side has had good collaborations with American researchers and shared a lot of its research. This has been done based on the idea that we help each other and have the same values of freedom of research and academic freedom, says Klitgaard.
And you can still do that outside the US, she says. She also points out that the Danish research environment is attractive because it supports a good family life alongside work. To attract American research talents, the Danish Chamber of Commerce and IDA suggest that the government should spend 200 million DKK annually from the so-called research reserve.
Mikkelsen also says that an information campaign should be carried out in the US, and that, among other things, Danish students in the US can be used to advertise Denmark to professors at major universities in the US.
If we are not ready at the garden gate, some of the other European countries will take them, says Klitgaard.
- There has been a tendency for the best researchers to go to the US. All the new major companies are created over there. Why shouldn't they be created in Denmark or Europe, says Mikkelsen.
US President Donald Trump has already frozen over 14 billion DKK from Harvard University in April.
On Tuesday, over 100 leaders of universities and other institutions in the US published an open letter. In it, they denounce the policy that the US government is pursuing towards institutions of higher education.
jel /ritzau/
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