CANBERRA -- The peak NGO for promoting Australian science has established a program aimed at attracting scientists who are leaving the United States.

The Australian Academy of Science (AAS) launched the talent attraction program on Thursday, declaring that Australia has an "unparalleled opportunity to attract the smartest minds leaving the United States."

Chennupati Jagadish, AAS president and distinguished professor in physics at the Australian National University, said in a statement that the program would seed Australia's scientific capability and "nurture the next generation" of local scientists and innovators.

"We must act swiftly to capitalize on this opportunity," he said.

The AAS said it has designed a competitive relocation package to attract scientists and technologists to Australia to work in any research organization or industry and invited funders to contribute to the attraction program.