In 2025, Italy will be third in Europe with over 14.000 Italian researchers working abroad., in foreign universities and research centers, with growth compared to previous years, both in European and non-European countries.
Many Italian researchers have received international awards and recognitions in 2025, such as the 17 awarded at ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology), as reported by Italian Medical News.
The “brain drain” concerns many Italians who choose to work abroad for greater opportunities and higher salaries and their main destinations are Germany, Switzerland, France, the United Kingdom and Spain.
This phenomenon is the subject of study and concern in Italy.
The departure of Italian researchers could lead to a depletion of the country's human capital and research capacity.
For this reason the Italian government and multiple organizations are promoting initiatives to attract Italian researchers abroad and encourage their return, such as calls for return and funding programs, with theaim of strengthening research and innovation in the country.
The RIE and the network of Italian researchers abroad
There are networks and initiatives, such as RIE (Italian Researchers and Scientists Abroad), which aim to create a network of contacts and promote the transfer of knowledge between Italian researchers working in Italy and abroad.
The “Italy Made me” program
An example is the program “Italy Made Me” which rewards young Italian researchers in the United Kingdom, and the initiative of the Ministry of University and Research which allocates 50 million euros to encourage the return of researchers from abroad.
This initiative, promoted by the Italian Embassy in London, rewards young Italian researchers working in the United Kingdom who have completed part of their training abroad, highlighting their contribution to research.
The MUR notice
even the Ministry of University and Research is working hard to encourage Italian and non-Italian researchers to work in Italy, in fact he has published a Notice for the submission of research projects aimed at enhancing the attractiveness of the Italian academic and research system.
Aimed at Italian and foreign researchers For those working abroad who wish to return to or relocate to Italy, this notice is aimed at winners of ERC Starting Grants or ERC Consolidator Grants, European funding for excellent researchers.
Why the return of researchers is important
The return of Italian researchers abroad is considered fundamental to the country's scientific and technological progress and to maintaining Italian research competitiveness internationally.
The presence of Italian researchers in the rankings of the most cited researchers in the world (such as that of Clarivate Analytics) testifies to theexcellence of Italian research, but it also raises questions about its ability to retain talent.
The importance that Italy gives to the work of researchers is also evident from the desire to dedicate an entire day to them, in fact the April 15th marks the Italian Research Day in the World., an initiative that aims to promote and enhance the contribution of Italian researchers abroad.
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