Ishiba aims to gain researchers in the U.S. fleeing Trump's policies
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holds a meeting of the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation at the prime minister's office in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on June 4. (Takeshi Iwashita)
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba shifted policy and instructed related ministers to recruit researchers seeking to leave the United States in the face of budget cuts and other attacks by President Donald Trump.
'We will enhance our efforts to attract excellent researchers from overseas, including the United States, amid the U.S. government's policies that have raised concerns about research activities,' Ishiba said at the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation, which he chairs, on June 4.
Ishiba had previously avoided actively pursuing researchers at U.S. universities, out of deference to the United States.
However, much needs to be worked out before Japanese educational institutions can accept researchers from abroad, including securing a budget.
Professors at elite universities in the United States can earn 30 million yen ($210,000) or more a year, higher than their peers in Japan.
The Cabinet Office will collaborate with the education ministry and other related institutions to establish measures to acquire these researchers as early as possible.
The government is considering Tohoku University as a host for these researchers.
The university is receiving 15.4 billion yen this fiscal year from the government for the state's University for International Research Excellence project.
The University of Osaka and other educational institutions have already announced policies to welcome researchers from the United States.
The government is considering increasing mid- and long-term budgets to enhance Japan's weakening research performance. The decision will take into account expectations that Trump will continue his policies that are driving researchers out of the United States.
Regarding international students, the education ministry has asked Japanese universities to accept those affected by the Trump administration's attack against Harvard University and other U.S. schools.
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