European brain drain a threat to competitiveness
The problem of European scientists staying abroad poses a threat to Europe's economic competitiveness, according to a study from the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies at the Joint Research Centre in Seville, Spain. Europeans completing a Ph.D. tend to stay abroad after finishing their thesis. The leading magnet for European professionals is the United States. About 50% of all European completing a Ph.D. in the US stay on for longer periods afterwards, and many of them stay permanently. There seem to be national differences however. Whereas around 75% of German graduates go back, only around 30% of UK nationals do the same. There are also variations between fields of study. Engineering graduates tend to stay over to a higher percentage than graduates in life sciences or physical sciences. The report makes clear that "the fact that significant numbers of top European scientist are abroad could pose a serious challenge for Europe in certain emerging sectors such as the biosciences." A main reason for this migration is identified in the study. The United States offers 'centres of excellence' together with flexible career structures, high living standards and a strong entrepreneurial culture. A change in policy in Europe will be necessary to change the 'brain drain' into a 'brain circulation'. An important role is attributed to the private sector reabsorbing foreign trained European scientists.