Israel hopes to stop brain drain, lure scientists home with academic, financial initiative
By APSunday, March 14, 2010
Israel approves plan to stop brain drain
JERUSALEM — Israel’s government has approved a plan to lure the country’s top scientific minds back home after years of brain drain.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement Sunday the plan includes incentives for scientists and new research facilities. It did not elaborate.
It said around $250 million have been earmarked for the project.
The plan aims to encourage Israeli scientists and technicians — many of whom have left Israel for more lucrative research opportunities overseas — to return to the country.
Netanyahu was quoted as saying science “is an important core of know-how for growth and advancement in Israel.”
Israel has a tradition of scientific excellence. Ada Yonath of Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science won the Nobel Prize for chemistry last year.
