ALLEA Calls for Global Defence of International Research Collaboration and Academic Freedom
On 29 June, the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities (ALLEA) published a new Statement, Science Knows No Borders, condemning a new rule proposed by the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that fundamentally changes the federal grant system.
If adopted, the proposed rule would fundamentally alter the conditions under which international research collaborations involving US-funded research can take place, with far-reaching implications for academic freedom, scientific excellence, and global innovation.
The proposal, published by the OMB on 29 May 2026, would introduce new restrictions on collaboration with broadly defined “covered foreign entities”, while expanding political oversight of research partnerships and funding decisions. ALLEA warns that these measures risk replacing independent scientific judgement with vague political criteria, and undermines peer review, institutional autonomy, and the open exchange of knowledge that underpins scientific progress.
“Science advances through the free exchange of ideas, knowledge, and expertise across borders,” the Statement notes. “Researchers must be able to choose collaborators solely on the basis of the added value of their scientific contribution.” The new rule would sacrifice research integrity for the sake of partisan politics.
International scientific collaboration has long been central to addressing global challenges, from climate change and public health to emerging technologies such as generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and food security. Restricting research partnerships would not only weaken research excellence and innovation but also diminish the global scientific community’s ability to respond collectively to challenges that transcend national borders.
This Statement by ALLEA reiterates our support for Academic Freedom in the United States and beyond, and emphasises our fundamental belief in maintaining Science as a global public good.
A Call for Collective Action
ALLEA is calling on the global scientific community to respond during the ongoing public consultation on the proposed rule, which remains open until 13 July 2026. The consultation provides a critical opportunity for researchers, universities, academies, funding organisations, and policymakers around the world to demonstrate their support for open international scientific cooperation and to highlight the broader consequences these proposals could have for research and innovation.
The statement urges:
- Research institutions, universities, academies and research funders to submit institutional responses and coordinate evidence-based advocacy across disciplines and borders.
- National governments and EU policymakers to engage with their US counterparts and reaffirm that international scientific cooperation strengthens research excellence and competitiveness.
- Individual researchers to share concrete examples demonstrating the value of international collaboration and document instances where scientific partnerships have been hindered or cancelled.
At a time when global challenges increasingly require global solutions, ALLEA emphasises that protecting academic freedom and preserving open scientific collaboration are essential for maintaining research excellence and public trust in science.
Find the full ALLEA Statement, as well as resources to support you in engaging with the public consultation here.
