A growing number of US academics are leaving the United States for Austria to escape political interference and funding cuts that threaten their research. Scientists and professors say they now have a safe space to pursue science freely without fear of government retaliation or ideological constraints. Wali Malik, a specialist in lab robotics, is among those who made the move. Previously based in Boston, Malik led consulting work for biomedical research labs. Last spring, he accepted a position in Vienna at Aithyra, a life sciences research institution founded in 2024 that integrates artificial intelligence into scientific development. Malik said his decision came after witnessing how federal grants were rescinded and research programs slowed under the Trump administration. Colleagues at the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation faced mass layoffs. “I saw the writing on the wall,” he said. “It took 70 years for the US to become a scientific powerhouse, and six months to see it undone.” Austria is actively seeking to attract scientists and academics facing challenges in the United States. In addition to Vienna, other European institutions, including universities in France and Canada, have launched programs to lure US-based researchers. France’s Aix-Marseille University reported over 500 inquiries from American academics seeking “scientific asylum.” Eva-Maria Holzleitner, Austria’s Minister of Women, Science and Research, called the situation in the US “shocking” and a setback for global science. Her ministry aims to bring at least 50 US academics to Austria within a year. Half will be hired through fast-track faculty appointments, while the other half will join fellowship programs for early- and mid-career researchers. The programs also offer funding for students denied access to education due to ethnicity, gender, or civic engagement. The initiative comes in response to US policies that have arrested or threatened to deport students, limited gender-affirming care, and restricted research topics that involve race, gender, or other politically sensitive subjects. Under Trump, federally funded research must align with rightwing ideology. Projects that discuss race, gender, or liberal topics risk losing support. Mass layoffs at agencies such as the US Department of Education have also alarmed researchers. Scenes of federal agents targeting immigrants and citizens have further convinced many foreign-born academics that the United States is no longer welcoming. Austria has responded with concrete incentives. In July 2025, the Austrian Academy of Sciences launched a fellowship program for academics at US institutions, funded with money originally provided by the Marshall Plan. By September, 25 recipients were awarded €500,000 each. Heinz Fassmann, the academy’s president, called it a “brain gain” sparked by US policy failures. Even American-born researchers who once moved to the US are considering returning to Europe. Alexandra Lieben, president of AsciNA, which represents Austrian scientists in North America, said many members have been affected by funding cuts. “There was a real shock and paralysis among academics,” she explained. “Now, many are exploring exit plans.” Alexander Lex, an Austrian national who led the Visualization Design Lab at the University of Utah, moved his lab to Graz University of Technology last year. He cited both political pressure and self-censorship in the US as reasons to relocate. “People are taking fewer risks, especially if they are vulnerable. That’s really bad for science,” he said. Hussam Habib, who studies algorithms and political polarization, also left the US for Austria. His work on disinformation became increasingly risky after federal funding for politically sensitive research dried up. “Am I glad I dodged a bullet? Yes. I would have been very stressed otherwise,” he said. As the United States continues to impose ideological constraints on research, Austria and other European countries are positioning themselves as stable, ideologically neutral alternatives. For academics facing political pressure, these initiatives offer both security and the freedom to pursue science without interference.