Marie Curie Actions: Inspiring Researchers - Imdea

Brain brain gain throughcirculationcirculationEuropean culture and vision of the world is largely basedon science. Ancient Greek philosophers such as Epicurerefl ected 2 000 years ago that the universe should becomposed of atoms. Renaissance humanists led theway to new techniques. And in the Enlightenmentperiod, Reason developed as a source of knowledgeand allowed for the scientifi c and technologicaldevelopments we know today.Scientifi c education and research have always played acentral role in Europe. Although education has remainedof high quality and has become increasingly accessibleover the years, post-World War II Europe has sufferedfrom a brain drain due to the lack of career opportunitiesfor skilled researchers. But those days are over, and theMarie Curie Actions are deploying every effort to makeEurope attractive for researchers, entice them to Europeand ensure that they enjoy promising careers.Returning European researchers and researchers fromthird countries also culturally enrich the European scientifi clandscape by bringing new approaches and attitudes withthem. Likewise, brain circulation facilitates the formationof international networks, catalyses new collaborations,helps foster new ideas and promotes the disseminationof breakthrough technologies.Knowledge without bordersPlugging and reversing the brain drain have become toppriorities for both the EU and its Member States. Andthere are signs that not only is the tide being turned,but that Europe is becoming a major destination for itsown returning talent, as well as top talent from otherparts of the world.A major and recent breakthrough was the creation of a‘scientifi c visa’, allowing researchers from outside theEU to receive a residence permit. Accredited researchorganisations certify the status of the researcher andacknowledge the existence of a valid research project, as© CNRS Photothèque - François Jannin177