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Argentina's Scientists Return to their Roots
From Universia-Knowledge@Wharton
About 7,000 Argentine scientists and researchers work in other countries, but at least 310 of them have returned to Argentina since 2003, drawn by new economic and professional opportunities. These "brains," who had emigrated since 1970, especially to the United States and Europe, were assisted by a program called Raices, an acronym that literally means "roots." In Spanish, that abbreviation is also short for "network of Argentine researchers and scientists abroad." The program is funded by Secyt, the country's ministry of science and technology. "In the beginning our only task was to create a database of researchers who lived abroad, including what kind of work they were doing. Now we have a repatriation fund that we can use to pay for the return tickets of those who decide to come back," notes Agueda Menvielle, who runs Raices. This year the organization has a budget of about $320,000.
Most Argentine specialists who have returned have joined Conicet, the national council of scientific and technical researchers. Conicet is an autonomous organization within the Argentine government. Its members are chosen by Argentina's executive branch and by researchers, business organizations and universities. >>>> Go to Full Story >>>