The U.S. still has a major advantage in attracting top scientific and technological talent, but that advantage is weakening as China becomes a more appealing alternative, The New York Times reports.
The U.S. has historically attracted talented international students and researchers because of its strong universities, academic freedom, trust and institutional stability. However, funding cuts, stricter immigration policies and suspicion toward foreign scientists are making the country less welcoming.
At the same time, China has improved its ability to attract researchers by offering competitive salaries, funding, infrastructure and relocation packages. Two 2026 Fields Medal winners, Hong Wang and Yu Deng, began their education in China but pursued advanced studies and careers in the U.S. and Europe, where they benefited from supportive academic environments.
In contrast, scientist Zhilin Yang returned to China after earning his Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon and founded Moonshot AI, whose Kimi K3 model came close to the performance of the best American AI models at a lower cost.
China still faces challenges, particularly in giving young researchers the freedom and patience needed to become exceptional. Nevertheless, U.S. policies are making international researchers less certain about coming to or remaining in America. With foreign students earning nearly 44% of U.S. STEM doctorates in 2023, maintaining this talent pipeline is crucial.
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Talent wars
