For decades following World War II, the United States stood as the undisputed global leader in science and higher education. Its universities attracted the brightest minds, and federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded groundbreaking research that led to transformative innovations — from the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (the predecessor of the internet) and the Apollo missions to the Human Genome Project and mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines.

However, recent policy shifts signal a retreat from this leadership, with profound implications for global scientific talent and innovation. This dramatic shift opens the door for China, including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, to emerge as attractive new destinations for the world’s brightest minds.

In 2025, the US federal government implemented sweeping cuts to NSF and NIH funding, citing budgetary constraints and ideological concerns. These reductions have affected top-tier universities, including Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell, and the University of California, Los Angeles. The Trump administration justified these actions by invoking issues such as “antisemitism”, “wokeness”, and affirmative action policies. As a result, universities like Stanford and Brown have resorted to hiring freezes and layoffs, reflecting a broader financial crisis in American higher education.

The consequences are already visible. A Nature poll conducted in March revealed that 75 percent of US-based scientists are considering relocation, with Europe and Canada among the preferred destinations. By May, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced aggressive visa revocations targeting Chinese students, particularly those in critical fields or with alleged ties to the Communist Party of China. Visa criteria for applicants from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong have been tightened, and Chinese-born scientists have faced investigations and arrests.

This challenging environment is leading to a significant departure of professionals of Chinese descent from the US.

From 2010 to 2021, nearly 12,500 scientists of Chinese descent left the US for China, with more than half departing from 2017 to 2021. The trend is accelerating. Chinese students, once drawn to the US for its academic excellence and job prospects, are now turning to the United Kingdom, Singapore, and other regions to avoid geopolitical entanglements.

The decline in international student enrollment threatens the financial stability of many American universities, which rely heavily on tuition from overseas students. Estimates suggest that excluding international students could cost the US economy $44 billion, exacerbate the trade deficit, and harm college towns, particularly in states like California and New York.

This loss presents a strategic opportunity for China. The world’s second-largest economy has long pursued self-sufficiency in science and technology. Its “Made in China 2025” initiative aims to transform the nation into a high-tech powerhouse, targeting 70 percent self-reliance in key industries. The country is building a vertically integrated artificial-intelligence ecosystem — from materials to software — to rival Western models.

Unlike the US, where generative AI tools are often restricted in classrooms, China actively promotes their use to enhance learning and productivity.

China is rapidly boosting its STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) talent pipeline, awarding over 50,000 STEM PhDs in 2022 — more than double that of the US — and is projected to widen this gap by 2025, thanks to a national emphasis on science and technology.

At the same time, the HKSAR is capitalizing on these shifts, attracting over 210,000 skilled professionals since 2022 with aggressive recruitment policies, world-class universities, lower tuition, flexible degree programs, and generous incentives like housing subsidies and a HK$1 billion ($127.4 million) youth entrepreneurship fund.

The global center of scientific gravity is shifting. The US, once a beacon of openness and innovation, is turning inward by cutting funding, restricting visas, and narrowing its academic landscape. On the contrary, China and its Hong Kong SAR are investing strategically, opening doors, and welcoming the world’s best minds

Crucially, Hong Kong’s compensation packages are globally competitive. With a low personal income tax rate — capped at 16 percent — researchers and professionals retain a larger share of their earnings compared to peers in the US or Europe. Combined with world-class infrastructure, international connectivity, and proximity to mainland innovation hubs, Hong Kong offers an attractive environment for global talent.

The development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area further enhances this appeal by integrating 11 fast-developing cities — including Hong Kong, Macao, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou — into a unified economic and innovation zone. Within this regional framework, incentives have been introduced for researchers, entrepreneurs, and students.

These incentives include cross-border research and development funding through joint research grants and subsidies for collaborative projects between Hong Kong and mainland institutions. Innovation and technology parks in Shenzhen and Guangzhou provide startup support with incubation services, tax holidays, and seed funding for initiatives led by Hong Kong-based researchers.

More importantly, the “one-hour living circle” facilitates talent mobility, allowing seamless commuting between cities via high-speed rail and integrated digital infrastructure. Also, generous housing allowances and relocation grants are available for young professionals and researchers moving to the Greater Bay Area. At the same time, preferential tax treatment enables eligible Hong Kong residents working on the mainland side of the Greater Bay Area to receive tax rebates, thus offsetting differences between Hong Kong and mainland tax rates.

These incentives are designed not only to attract global talent but also to retain it by offering a high quality of life, professional growth, and access to one of the world’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems.

The global center of scientific gravity is shifting. The US, once a beacon of openness and innovation, is turning inward by cutting funding, restricting visas, and narrowing its academic landscape. On the contrary, China and its Hong Kong SAR are investing strategically, opening doors, and welcoming the world’s best minds.

If current trends persist, the next generation of breakthroughs in AI, medicine, and space exploration may not emerge from Silicon Valley or Cambridge, but more likely from Shenzhen, Beijing, and Hong Kong.

The author is a distinguished research professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.