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Photo: Getty Image Bank Israel
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Photo: Getty Image Bank Israel

Boston: Israeli consul attempts to reverse brain drain

Some 50 Israeli scientists participate in event aimed at returning hundreds of academics residing in US to Jewish state

BOSTON – Every year, some 100 outstanding scientists from Israel arrive in the United States for post-doctorate studies in the fields of life sciences and exact sciences. In addition, some 100 outstanding physicians arrive in the US for a training period. Many of them do not return to Israel.

 

In a bid to tackle this phenomenon, Israel's Consul-General in Boston Nadav Tamir organized an event at his home, which was attended by 50 Israeli scientists residing in the New England area.

 

"These are the best brains and we want to understand what can be done in order to help some of them return, and help others keep in touch with their home and provide them with job opportunities in Israel," Tamir told Ynet.

 

"We want to understand what we can do in order to help them return. There are some among them who want to return," he added.

 

The prestigious universities of Massachusetts and some of the best hospitals and research institutes in the world draw some of the best Israeli scholars specializing in life sciences – research and medicine. They arrive for advanced studies and stay.

 

The Boston-based BioAbroad association was founded to help return those scientists, doctors and entrepreneurs to the Israeli industry, health system and academia.

 

The association has been working opposite government offices in a bid to return scientists. It raises funds together with Israeli universities to increase available research posts, raise money for scholarships, send people to job interviews in Israel and locating and advertising employment opportunities.

 

The association's website includes a database of more than 500 scientists seeking a connection with the Israeli academia and industry.

 

Recently BioAbroad signed a cooperation agreement with the Ben-Gurion University to return Israeli scientists from overseas and absorb them at the university and the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev.

 

'Human assets can make a huge contribution'

Rami Lotam, the association's director-general, said that "there are currently thousands of Israeli scientists, managers and doctors in the best research institutes, universities and companies in the US.

 

"The large majority arrived for advanced academic studies, with the goal of returning to Israel after completing their studies or after a limited period in which they accumulate academic or industrial experience.

 

"These human assets can make a huge contribution to the scientific and industrial development in the state of Israel," he added.

 

Maintaining a connection between the Israeli academia and industry and the Israeli scientists abroad enables the location of suitable workplaces for returning scientists and the creation of high-tech cooperation and enterprises in Israel.

 

The Israeli Foreign Ministry is working to locate Israeli brains abroad and present them with options to return home. A similar event which will be held in Washington at the end of the month will be attended by Israeli Ambassador to the US Salai Meridor.

 


פרסום ראשון: 10.17.08, 09:32
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