“It’s About Brains…”

TOWARDS LISBON 2.1 Ljubljana, 28.09.2007

IT’S ABOUT BRAINS…

Nikolai Genov

Free University Berlin

[email_address]

TWO CONTRADICTORY SITUATIONS

-Science is getting more and more globalized , but:

-The educational and economic effects of R&D are

measured in local terms (in competitiveness of companies and nations)

- International migration of scientists is normality

in science, but:

- Who profits from the discoveries and inventions?

IT‘S ABOUT THE VALUE OF BRAINS

THE EU-LISBON STRATEGY AND EU-REALITIES

a) Decreasing native population;

b) Decreasing interest among EU-students to choose professional career in the natural sciences and engineering;

c) Growing competition on the international R&D labour market (competition for brains);

d) Seven of ten EU-born doctorate recipients in the USA use to stay there after graduation.

EU-countries need immigration of HQ in R&D

CURRENT DEBATES

EC VP Franco Frattini in September 2007:

-EU should facilitate the immigration

of HQ in R&D

German politicians - other priorities:

-To stop brain-drain from EU ;

-To integrate immigrants;

-To keep competences of member-states

and EU clearly defined and separated .

THE BACKGROUND OF THE DEBATE: Unemployment in the European Union by skill level

CAN GERMANY BE CONSISTENT IN RESTRICTING IMMIGRATION OF HQ IN R&D?

OBVIOUSLY NO:

-In 2000:„Green Card“ initiative (IT HQ) for 20000

-Till the end of 2001: some 10000

-Till December 2004: some 18000

Reasons: - Limitation of the stay

- High threshold of salary

- Family members

USA, Canada, Australia, UK: more successful

So: Competition for brains is a matter of policy

WHAT COULD EU INITIATIVES ACTUALLY ACHIEVE? (1: INTERNALLY)

TRANSFER AND EU-GENERALIZATION

OF “BEST PRACTICES” FROM VARIOUS SOURCES

To facilitate the real opening of academic and R&D positions in the EU to world-wide competition (US American style of open academic market)

To facilitate the real search for “best and brightest” worldwide (EU-wide “anti-trust” policies);

To press on supportive national legal regulations for inflow of HQ in R&D;

To foster flexicurity in academic and R&D institutions

(more project based structures)

WHAT COULD EU INITIATIVES ACTUALLY ACHIEVE? (2: EXTERNALLY)

OPEN THE EU R&D INSTITUTIONS TO

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION AND COOPERATION

-FP7 is on the right track in funding broad joint projects;

-Strengthening cooperation with traditional partners;

-Readiness to innovate in developing the relationships

with new neighbours;

-Russia and Ukraine as special (and different) cases

-The German experience with immigrants from the

former Soviet Union

RUSSIA AND UKRAINE AS DONOR COUNTRIES?

Reasons for emigration of researchers and

university teachers at Moscow universities (2004)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Reason %

_________________________________________________________

Low wages 76

Decline of prestige of intellectual labour 53

Lack of opportunities to realize the scientific potential 50

Threat of social outbursts 40

Anxiety about the future of the children 35

Economic instability, threat of unemployment 35

Vague prospects concerning the professional carrier 19

_______________________________________________________________________

Research personnel at the National Academy of Science of Ukraine ■ Number of researchers (thousands) ■ Number of researchers with academic degrees (Dr, Dr. sc.)

MOBILITY OF HQ IN R&D IS A MATTER OF DOUBLE CONTINGENCY Desires for : PAa:Institutional support PBa:Knowledge &status in R&D acquisition PCa: Personal capacities PDa: Support from the personal environment Career in or outside R&D PA: Institutional environment PB: Professional education PC: Professional aspirations PD: Personal c ircumstances Experience as scientist Assessments of : PAb: Institutional constraints PBb: Value of knowledge & status acquisition PCb: Personal capacities PDb: Personal circumstances Career in or outside the home country

THE PROSPECTS?