Years of research, invaluable data and months spent seeking financial funding for projects in Denmark may be wasted because the largest US research fund has changed its policy. The flow of money out of the country must be limited, and there must be greater clarity about the funds, the National Institute of Health writes in a press release, according to Videnskab.dk.
The decision was made on the basis of massive cuts in the fund by the Trump administration. Although it hits Danish research hard, not many researchers are coming forward and complaining.
Videnskab.dk has spoken to one of the researchers who is noticing the changes. He does not want to give his name and research area as long as the situation remains as it is in the US, where critics of the US administration's policies risk being banned from entering the country if they speak out in the media. The researcher may have lost up to eight million kroner.
Videnskab.dk has spoken to several other Danish researchers who are in the same situation, but do not want to tell their story to the public for fear of the consequences it may have for their research careers in the US.
In March, a French researcher was denied entry to the US because he had sent messages to friends and colleagues via his phone in which he spoke critically about the Trump administration's policies.
Universities count lost millions
At least 21 Danish research projects have lost funding from the US worth around 30 million kroner. The numbers are expected to increase, as several Danish universities are far from having the full picture of the consequences right now.
- We count 16 projects that have lost funding, says Kim Brinckmann, Deputy Director for Research and Information Security at the University of Copenhagen.
In addition, Aarhus University, the Technical University of Denmark and the University of Southern Denmark are affected by the situation.
The universities cannot currently state how many projects have lost American support.
Minister: It is inevitable
The Minister of Higher Education and Research takes the lost funding seriously and does not want to try to embellish the situation.
- First of all, I will be honest and say that it is inevitable that cuts in the US will also be felt at Danish research institutions, says Christina Egelund to Videnskab.dk.
It may be difficult for researchers to find similar collaborations in Europe, because there are not as many and large grants and neither the same expertise.
. Right now, Denmark is taking over the presidency of the EU. And we must help to shape Europe's move up a gear when it comes to research, says Christina Egelund.
At present, she sees no reason for the ministry to interfere in how the universities handle the situation.
- I would not rule out that we can do something targeted in the longer term, but until we have the full picture, I will not be able to promise anything, says Christina Egelund.
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