Greece sabotages its own plans to reverse the brain drain of scientists
Athens is trying to lure back researchers after an exodus during the financial crisis, but a major EU-backed scheme has fallen apart.
Greece's efforts to attract top scientists back home after the financial crisis have hit a dead end, according to an account by reporter <reporter>. A program called "Trust your Stars," funded by EU post-Covid recovery funds, aimed to reverse the brain drain by offering incentives for researchers. However, the project's collapse has left many scientists feeling betrayed and disillusioned.
Aristides Hatzis, a professor at the University of Athens, criticized the situation, stating that the "brain gain" initiative is a "massive step backward." Over 500,000 people left Greece during the financial crisis, shrinking the economy by a quarter and driving unemployment to 28 percent. Despite improvements since then, the issue remains for scientists.
The program, which received €80 million, had 145 out of 1,241 submissions selected. Despite calls for reevaluation and legal disputes, the government announced the project would not receive EU funds, leading to frustration among researchers. Prime Minister's office spokesperson stated that funds were redirected to other RRF actions, but many researchers feel misled and abandoned.
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