China Lures U.S. Scientific Talent with New Policies and Massive Investment
China is aggressively strengthening its position in the geopolitical rivalry with the United States by launching targeted policies and making massive investments designed to attract top-tier global scientific talent, including prominent U.S. researchers.
China has successfully recruited at least 85 U.S. scientists to its research institutions since the start of 2024, with more than half of those transfers occurring in 2025 alone. The recruits include nuclear physicists and artificial intelligence (AI) researchers, according to CNN. This brain drain is concurrent with Beijing’s significant financial commitment to research, as it raised its research and development (R&D) budget for 2024 to approximately $496 billion, bringing the sector’s share of GDP to 2.68 percent.
Further facilitating this recruitment is a new specialized visa program aimed at attracting young foreign talent in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, Euronews Persian reported. This new visa does not require applicants to have a prior job offer, allowing them unrestricted entry into China to engage in scientific and research activities. Experts believe this program capitalizes on the reduced attractiveness of U.S. work visas and recent stricter American immigration policies, creating a prime opportunity for China to absorb foreign experts.
China is also successfully encouraging reverse migration by offering substantial financial incentives to Chinese elites currently residing in the U.S. These incentives include large bonuses and housing purchase assistance for returning Chinese scientists and specialists working in key scientific and technological fields. This combination of heavy investment, the specialized visa program, and financial rewards is rapidly transforming China into a highly attractive destination for global scientific and academic talent.
Experts in immigration emphasize that this strategy not only bolsters China’s domestic research capacity and economic appeal but also strengthens Beijing’s position in the geopolitical competition, limiting Washington’s ability to attract and retain elite global talent.
