Brazil loses talent to other countries due to lower science and technology investments

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In the ranking of countries that most retain qualified professionals, Brazil plummeted 25 positions between 2019 and 2020: from 45th to 70th.

Science and technology was among the areas that suffered the most from a drop in investments in Brazil. This led researchers to leave the country. It is the so-called “brain drain.”

Part of the elite of Brazilian science can be found at international airport lobbies, with one-way tickets. In the past 2 years, the country has gained ground in the “export” of qualified professionals, a transaction in which Brazil is the only loser.

By looking at the sky so much, meteorologist Micael Amore Cecchini became a doctor in clouds – a study capable of generating millions for agriculture with accurate rain and drought forecasts. Without a job in Brazil, he is heading to the United States with all his luggage.

A French school studies the competitiveness of 133 countries in terms of talent. In the ranking of countries that most retain qualified professionals, Brazil dropped 25 positions between 2019 and 2020: from 45th to 70th. When looking at the list of nations that most attract talent, Brazil has also dropped sharply in 4 years: down 28 places.

“There is tremendous denialism about the importance of knowledge, the importance of scientific and technological development, and this is leading the country to a huge intellectual regression,” Artaxo said.

Intellectual emigration coincides with the reduction in the budget of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations, which lost almost half of its resources between 2015 and 2016 and has been experiencing more cuts since 2019.

Brazil’s laboratories have been an easy target for countries competing for highly qualified professionals. There is a lack of research resources, opportunities, and working conditions for researchers.

This “brain drain,” a way of referring to the phenomenon, projects a less prosperous future for the country. Those who study the issue explain that there is a direct relationship between the ability to retain talent and economic development.

“The most developed countries are the most competitive in talent. You have the best talent, you develop more, you attract better talent. And you enter a virtuous circle between talent, competitiveness, and economic growth,” pointed out Felipe Monteiro, professor at the European Institute of Business Administration.

The advisor has become an expert in recommendation letters for departing PhDs and is well aware of what Brazil is losing.

“This is the greatest asset that any nation can have, the minds of its scientists. This will be key in terms of economic development from now on. So, Brazil must reverse this situation, Brazil must bet on the intelligence of its youth, give them the opportunity to work in laboratories here in Brazil, invest in this new generation, instead of losing all with them leaving for other countries, causing tremendous losses to our nation,” Artaxo stressed.

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation declined a request for comment.