[ Sofia Events ]

Organized by:
Committee of Young Scientists (CYS), Union of Scientist in Bulgaria (USB),
Austrian Science and Research Liaison Office Sofia (ASO)

Rationale of the Initiative
The saying says – “travelling broadens mind”, but is it always true? What is the
impact of the increasing mobility to the societies and science? Who is the winner after all?
Can we consider the mobility policy as an alternative to brain drain?
The costs and benefits of the “brain drain” and circulation of talent are hotly
debated during the last years. International mobility of skilled workers can generate global
benefits by improving knowledge flows and satisfying the demand for skills. The contribution of
foreign skilled workers to economic growth and achievement in the host countries, in particular to
research, innovation and entrepreneurship in increasingly recognized.

The risk of a “brain drain” damaging rich countries is arguably lower, but it
does exist.Nevertheless, the same does not always hold true for the poorer
countries or the
new market economies. While there is little doubt that highly educated workers in many
developing countries are scarce, it is also true that many scientists, engineers, physicians, and
other professionals from developing countries work in Canada, the United States, and Western Europe.
The phenomenon of “brain drain” was noticed in the 1960s and has become a
contentious issue in the debates ever since. One important implication of the “brain drain” is that
investment in education in poorer countries may not lead to faster economic growth if a large number of
its highly educated people leave the country.

The quality of the two way flow of migration is key, thought it is difficult to
calculate weather the loss of a top researcher can be compensated by even several hundred IT
specialists. But as skilled migration between advanced countries is often temporary, there maybe a
double gain from the circulation of the highly skilled, first from the overseas experience
acquainted by their researcher, and second from the constant skilled workers. Still, this is not the
case in the Eastern
European Countries. How expansive is the “brain drain”? Is there a winning
solution for them? How does these issues relay to the knowledge economy goal set by the EU
countries?

Main discussion topics

• Brain drain – is it really a problem? For whom?
  
• Mobility – pro and cons. Mobility as an alternative to brain drain
  
• Possibilities for networking among young scientists in SEE and EU
  
• Knowledge management
  
• Promote the achievements of young scientists in their own countries
  
• Young Scientists reintegration after mobility and encouragement of the
  dissemination of the young scientists achievement