Danish research projects lose millions due to Trump cuts

At least 21 Danish research projects are losing support worth over 30 million dollars due to cuts at the United States' largest research fund, the National Institute of Health (NIH).

This is reported by Videnskab.dk.

Since Donald Trump was installed as the American president in January, NIH has cancelled around 2,100 research grants worth approximately 9.5 billion dollars. This is according to the independent database Grant Watch, writes news bureau Reuters.

At the University of Copenhagen (KU), 16 projects have lost funding worth around 20 million dollars. This is stated by Kim Brinckmann, who is the vice-director for Research and Information Security at KU, to the media.

In addition, Videnskab.dk has spoken to a researcher who is operating on condition of anonymity.

He had three grants from the fund and could potentially lose up to eight million dollars.

The Southern Denmark University (SDU) has 14 grants, but can only confirm that one of them has lost support.

Videnskab.dk has previously described a researcher from SDU who is set to lose around three million on his grant.

Both Aarhus University and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) are affected by the situation at NIH.

However, they have not yet obtained a full overview. This is because the fund is setting new rules for supplementary grants in September, writes Videnskab.dk.

However, this does not make Kim Brinckmann from KU believe that it changes much.

- They return in September with the new policy, but our clear understanding is that they have stopped support for the mentioned projects, and that NIH in general is facing significant savings, he says to the science media.

During Trump's second term as president, it has been part of his policy to find savings in areas such as public funding for research.

This has resulted in several research programs in the country being closed down.

Some staff at American universities fear being retained or deported due to their political views.

Foreign researchers fear entry bans if they express criticism of the administration's policy. This is the reason why the researcher that Videnskab.dk has spoken to does not wish to come forward with his name and research area.

Education and Research Minister Christina Egelund (M) will not rule out that the ministry may take action in the future. However, she will make no promises before the full picture becomes clear, she says to Videnskab.dk.

The Trump administration, according to Reuters, has proposed to cut 18 billion dollars - or 40% - of NIH's budget next year.

/ritzau/

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