Its inversion brain drain, or as brain gain is often called, is the persecution of a number of governments and the priority of the current government and the prime minister personally. That is why Mr. Mitsotakis he often expresses his support for a range of initiatives, recently describing reversing the brain drain as “a choice that is in line with the national priority to increase investment, create new jobs and harness the talents of our youth.”

A particular form of brain drain are Greek scientists who leave Greece after completing their studies (having obtained a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree) and continue to work as researchers in universities, research centers and start-ups or large companies. I would venture to argue that this particular category of scientists is at the heart of the brain drain problem, because they are often at the forefront of acquiring new knowledge, but also at the forefront of important initiatives to use it. The interest of Greek scholars in Greece is often expressed in a variety of initiatives to create the right conditions for the return of young people, such as the recently introduced “BrainReGain – Hellenism in Action” and the “Hellenic Institute for Advanced Study” initiative. “. There are practical examples of the intention of scientists to invest their personal time in Greece, for example, the recent award of seven “ERA Chair” programs with a total value of 17,500,000 euros to Greek researchers who will transfer their know-how to Greece, creating dozens of quality jobs, specializing in research area that prevents the phenomenon of brain drain, but also creates conditions for brain gain through the same actions.

These initiatives, despite their good intentions and good objective results, are a drop in the ocean. Not enough mentoring, scientific bridges, not two tens of millions. The quality of life that the prime minister recently spoke about is an interesting argument, but unfortunately it is not offered free of charge and depends on the income level of each family. And for most academics, moving to Greece from Europe or elsewhere means lower incomes, no job security, and a cut in the social benefits they are used to. In many cases, having a non-Greek speaking partner is prohibited because research positions in the state require knowledge of the Greek language, and doing business requires not only knowledge of the language, but also knowledge of the Greek language. bureaucracy and mentality are preconditions. The existence of children in the family does not only require knowledge of the Greek language, since attending a public school is a one-way street based on wages, i.e. university professor, but also adapting to a system of education rooted in the last century. The bureaucratic quagmire of the pension system prevents the less young from considering a refund if their pension is not already secured from abroad, while the pending pension is a scapegoat for young people who would like to ignore the reality of the payroll. For those who are brave enough to consider starting a new knowledge-intensive business and getting laid off the payroll, the “criminalize failure” mentality, especially in an industry where failure is the norm and success the exception, creates an unsustainability that is exacerbated by small abroad – available amounts in venture capital.

Pointing out the problems I mention is easy. Proposing solutions is harder and harder. Personally, from 2023 to 2027, I will be one of the seven Greeks who will have 2.5 million euros at their disposal to create, with the assistance of worthy Greek colleagues already in Greece, the conditions for returning to Greece for myself and my family. I believe that with this money from the European Commission, we will improve the academic microcosm of the University of Patras, which will do me the honor of hosting me, and we will offer conditions for the return of 6-8 young Greeks from abroad or not to travel abroad. But, unfortunately, we can’t do much more without changes that are beyond our control and must be deeply structural and far beyond what we need to achieve in our program and the other six colleagues in theirs.

Wishful thinking, supportive actions, and even small financial resources are not enough to reverse the brain drain. It is necessary to increase funding for the infrastructure of Greece – both research and business, as well as social, otherwise, in the end, the increase in brains will simply remain on the lot of Greek patriotism.

* Mr. Anastasis Perrakis is Director of the Biochemistry Sector at the Netherlands Cancer Institute and Research Fellow at the Oncode Institute, Professor at the University of Utrecht, Coordinator of the iNEXT-Discovery Research Infrastructure Program, and from 2023 he will collaborate with the University of Patras as an “ERA chair”.