On Jun. 13, 2025, the Japanese government unveiled a 100 billion yen ($700 million) policy package designed to attract foreign researchers, some of whom may have joined the exodus of talent from the United States due to research funding cuts.

The measures aim to create an elite research environment in Japan, as competition to lure talent intensifies globally in fields such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors.

The government also plans to use profits generated from a 10 trillion yen investment fund set up by the state to help universities produce internationally competitive research.

Many researchers have departed the United States as President Donald Trump’s administration has pushed elite universities to prioritize American students over those from other countries and slashed federal funding for many programs.

Japan’s new policy package will fund many existing programs, including a plan by Tohoku University to spend around 30 billion yen to recruit about 500 researchers from Japan and abroad.