The EU and Switzerland implement several measures to mitigate the adverse effects of brain drain, which affect regional disparities, economic progress, and R&I.
There are multiple causes for brain drain, which can be summarised into push and pull factors. Push factors include structural youth unemployment, poor education systems or bad working conditions, and political instability in the home region. Pull factors, such as higher living standards, access to healthcare, better job opportunities or cultural factors, may attract individuals to other regions. Other contributors driving people to leave their native nations include poor government and corruption. Up to date, Romania is the country most affected by brain drain in the EU, and the main causes for the issue include the standard of the educational and research facilities.
Focusing on possible solutions, collaborative efforts between the EU and European nations are of high importance when it comes to tackling brain drain and the accompanying challenges. To this end, the European Commission has implemented the PSF instrument, which serves as a mechanism for providing support in the design, execution, and assessment of reforms pertaining to Research and Innovation (R&I) systems in the EU Member States and countries associated with Horizon Europe. Additionally, within the framework of their national Recovery and Resilience Plans (RRPs), certain Member States have undertaken specific measures and investments aimed at mitigating the issue of brain drain. As an example, Latvia has introduced a comprehensive higher education reform, focused on improving the quality and competitiveness of its academic institutions by implementing structural adjustments in governance, funding, and human resources. In a similar vein, Slovenia has enacted a new Scientific Research and Innovation Activities Act and made changes to its research and innovation governance to address the challenge of brain drain by promoting research and innovation.
In a similar effort, the European Commission has set up Widening measures under the €95.5 billion Horizon Europe programme. It is aimed at improving research careers and access to innovation funding to bridge the EU’s East-West research performance gap. Several funding opportunities of the Widening scheme, such as the Twinning mechanism, Teaming for Excellence, the Hop-on Facility or Pathways to Synergies are also effective in addressing the brain drain challenge. The European Commission is currently reviewing and considering several aspects when developing Widening Measures for Horizon Europe’s successor programme. One area that will be scrutinised is the participation rate of enterprises from Widening countries in the European Innovation Council’s start-up and SME financing support programme, the EIC Accelerator. The Commission is currently considering a pilot project to increase the number of applications to the EIC Accelerator from Widening country start-ups. Simultaneously, the Commission aims to enhance the professional development of researchers. In July, it introduced a proposal for a new European framework for research careers (see SwissCore article), aimed at increasing contract stability, recruitment processes and working conditions.
On a national scale, it is essential to adopt multifaceted strategies to address this issue. A pivotal method revolves around enhancing the appeal of regions and enhancing local opportunities by cultivating favourable working conditions, providing competitive salaries, and fostering promising career prospects. For example, in accordance with the guidance from the PSF, Lithuania has executed plans to boost domestic opportunities by providing funding for ambitious research projects spearheaded by researchers affiliated with foreign institutions. These initiatives encompass financial support for salaries, research-related expenditures, and overhead costs, effectively attracting highly skilled scientists.
In this context, with its second contribution to selected EU member states, Switzerland supports countries that have joined the EU since 2004 (EU-13) or are subject to strong migration movements. The contributions aim to help to reduce economic and social inequalities in the enlarged EU. Switzerland is committing CHF 1.3 billion to be used by 2029. In this context, the Swiss National Science Foundation is launching three funding programmes as part of the Swiss contribution, among them the Promotion of Young Scientists in Central and Eastern Europe (PROMYS) (see SwissCore article), with a new ongoing call to support researchers willing to work in Bulgaria with a call deadline on 30 November 2023. Besides, a multilateral call for Joint Research Projects (MCJRP) is foreseen, and a scientific Exchange Programme Bulgaria-Switzerland will follow. Beyond that, a programme supporting Hungarian and Croatian SMEs to succeed in obtaining funding in Eurostars (see SwissCore article) and initiatives in strengthening Vocational and Education Training (VET) are expected. In addition, Switzerland is also engaged in other widening measures, such as its strong participation in the funding scheme of COST (see SwissCore article), as approximately 90% of all actions include Swiss participants, with the aim to spread excellence.
In conclusion, addressing brain drain is vital for fostering economic growth and innovation, especially in talent-deficient regions. It demands a multifaceted strategy: enhancing domestic opportunities, investing in education and research, and creating favourable workplaces with competitive salaries and career paths. Promoting institutional changes and inclusive labour market conditions, along with setting common standards for European researchers and institutions, is essential. National governments and the European Union must work together in persistent efforts to combat brain drain effectively. Implementing PSF recommendations is pivotal. By aligning with the PSF and taking proactive measures, countries can mitigate negative consequences and ensure that top scientific talent contributes to sustainable development.