Beating the brain drain

Academics say excellence centers will lure Greek scholars home

By Apostolos Lakassas - Kathimerini

Greece is last in the EU-15 when it comes to public investment in research and technology, and last in public expenditure on education. So it is hardly surprising that up to 50 percent of doctoral research programs in Greece are not completed and that some of the most capable graduates decide to go abroad.

The brain drain is a serious problem for the government, the academic community, businesses and the European Union, which is preparing its response to US superiority by establishing the European Technology Institute (EIT).

“As a physicist, I don’t mind where I work. The only thing that counts is to be able to carry out my research program. The best scientists go where they are offered the best research and working conditions,” Christos Lykos, a professor who teaches at Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf, told Kathimerini. Lykos was in Athens for a meeting of Greeks who have held scholarships from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (who number a total of 1,750).

His academic career is typical of scholars who emigrate. “I left Greece in 1988, after I graduated from the National Technical University of Athens. First I went to the US, to Cornell. Then I got a scholarship to the University of Munich, followed by two years in France. In 1996 I went back to Germany, and in 2003 I spent six months at Cambridge,” he said.

The brain drain has become a more serious problem for Europe because the US continues to consolidate its lead, as demonstrated by the dominance of American scientists on this year’s Nobel prize list.

“The important thing is to promote excellence,” DAAD Vice President Max Huber told Kathimerini.

“Greece is in a disadvantageous position because it is a small country which imports the results of research by powerful states. That is why I think the idea of excellence centers should be promoted. Each university should seek a field where it has a strong grounding and develop it. These centers could act as an attraction to bring Greek scientists back from abroad.”

Added Lykos: “It’s a good idea. But they must have a solid basis and secure funding, even from private sources, so that the endeavor is not left in the air.”

The proposal to support excellence in Greek universities was made by eminent Greek academics at European and American foundations who submitted their proposals to the National Education Council in an attempt to get Greek tertiary education moving.

European Commission data show there is a massive flow of scholars from Europe to the US, with only 29 percent of them declaring that they intend to return to Europe upon completion of their studies.

In response, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso himself is leading the planning for the EIT. He describes it as a flexible organization which will have postgraduate students and doctoral candidates, conduct research and produce technology in strategic fields. The EIT will work with leading companies to find commercial applications for its research.

But strenuous opposition has come from some universities in Europe, which fear that EIT might take the lion’s share of funds and staff. “That is precisely how it is,” said Huber. “I agree with their estimates that their funding of European institutes will decrease. For my part I think it is much better to build universities in Greece, Portugal, Italy and elsewhere in Europe to function as model research institutes.”