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“Connecting the scientific diaspora of the Republic of
Moldova to the socio economic development
of the home country”
Dr. Gabriela Tejada
Kick-off Meeting
Chisinau, 30, April 2010
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“Connecting the scientific diaspora of the Republic of Moldova
to the scientific and economic development of the home country”
A collaboration between:
• the Academy of Sciences of Moldova (ASM)
• the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
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Presentation content
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Migration and Development – Diasporas
Relevance for Moldova
Project Background
Objectives
Empirical Evidence
Expected Results
Dissemination and Valorisation
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Migration and Development - Diasporas
• Current global debate: migration and development (GCIM, GFMD,
etc..)
• Increase in the international migration of skilled persons (brain
drain)
• Knowledge: key catalyst to advance development
• Brain gain perspective: how to minimize migration negative
impacts and encourage its potential benefits? Skilled migration… an
opportunity?
• Feedback effects of skilled migration : diaspora option
• Diaspora option: not necessarily through permanent return but
leveraging the knowledge, skills and other resources of diasporas
from abroad (reversing brain drain into gains!).
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Relevance for Moldova
Background and context in Moldova (1990’s)
• Economic instability of the 1990s
• Lack of experience in the management of scientific
policies
• Context of a market economy in transition
• Brain drain: scientific community falling by 58%
since 1990
• Investment in S&T reduced drastically between
1990 (0,73% of GDP) and 2000 (0,18% of GDP)
2004 : turning point for the development of science
• Adoption of the Code for Science and Innovation
• Increase investment in R&D activities
• Increase participation in international research
programmes
• Investment in S&T in 2008 : 0,74% of GDP;
expected: 1% of GDP by 2011
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Project Background
SCOPES Programme of the SNSF Programme
– “Scientific Cooperation between Eastern Europe
and Switzerland”
– Joint initiative by SNSF and SDC
– Part of a wider effort to reinforce economic,
scientific and cultural ties between Switzerland
and Eastern Europe
– 6th Phase (2009-2012) 16 million CHF through
diverse mechanisms (JRP, IP, PG, EG…)
– Aim: capacity development
“improving the quality and increasing the level
of scientific research “
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Project Background
• Grant of 100’000 CHF for the Joint Research Project (JRP):
“Connecting the scientific diaspora of the Republic of Moldova to the
scientific and economic development of the home country”
• Duration: 3 years (2010 -2012)
• Collaboration between:
• the Department of European Integration and International
Cooperation (DEIIC) of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova (ASM)
• Cooperation@epfl of the Vice-Presidency of Institutional Affairs of the
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
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Objective
• Main aim:
To identify ways of establishing a permanent instrument for
interaction between the scientific diaspora of the RM and the
scientific and professional community at home.
• In accordance with the initiative by the DEIIC of the ASM :
“Fostering cooperation with Moldovan scientific diaspora”.
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Empirical evidence
• Priority given to primary data
• Empirical research through on-line questionnaires to: the scientific
diaspora in key destination countries; the scientific community at
home; and in-depth face-to-face interviews to key informants.
– Better understanding of migration paths and living conditions of
skilled migrants in destination countries
– Links they maintain with their country of origin
– Expectations from scientists at home, from the diaspora, and from
diverse stakeholders from such a permanent collaboration
mechanism
– Enabling conditions, good practices and best policies that could
support skilled migrants as partners in development
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Expected Results
First hand information
– Contribute knowledge based-evidence on the
position/conditions of the scientific diaspora in
destination countries.
Policy oriented research
– Contribute to the policy dialogue through the
organisation of a round table on policy implications
and recommendations on how to better engage the
scientific diaspora in the development process of
the RM.
Action oriented research
– Propose/design a permanent mechanism to involve
the scientific diaspora of the RM as development
partners.
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Dissemination and Valorisation
• Contribution to the policy dialogue, giving visibility to research findings at
a public level (getting the message across !);
• Continuous dialogue with key stakeholders (national, regional and
international levels);
• Workshops and participation in the Moldovan Diaspora Fairs;
• Scientific publications and communications in international conferences;
• Completion of a comprehensive report with the research findings and
main policy implications ;
• List of good practices…
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Contact and further information :
Dr. Gabriela Tejada [email protected]
http://cooperation.epfl.ch
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
MULŢUMESC
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