That's what Roi Shimani, a consultant for foreign trade, R&D and investments at the Ministry of Science and Technology, who chaired a committee to prevent brain drain and return scientists from abroad, using a survey conducted by the BioAbroad Forum
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of the Ministry of Education and Culture Eli Yishai recently appointed Roi Shihini, a consultant for the field of foreign trade, R&D and investments, to prepare a plan that will examine and provide an answer at the level to which the Ministry of Education is in charge, in the matter of "brain drain" abroad.
Mehini points out that the Ministry of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the BioAbroad forum from the USA and carried out by the company Applied Economics, initiated a survey among Israeli scientists in the fields of biotechnology living in the USA. The survey was conducted with the aim of examining the potential of researchers returning to Israel in the fields of life sciences in general and in the fields of biotechnology in particular. The questionnaire was sent to about 300 Israeli researchers at the leading universities and in the biotechnology industry in the USA. In less than two weeks, 185 researchers responded to the request and answered the questionnaire. This exam will serve as a touchstone for a broader program aimed at restoring brains to research and industry.
This is the first time that an equally serious problem - the brain drain from the industry - is being investigated. Many Israelis who work in global companies and advance in their positions, find themselves transferred to headquarters or other branches around the globe. Some of them are even looking for jobs that allow the desired relaxation. Estimates hold that over twenty thousand Israelis work outside of Israel for various companies. In a significant number of cases, these are brilliant minds, talented managers and prominent talents in their field. Moreover, different countries in the world are concentrating their efforts in order to bring outstanding talents and brilliant minds to their field. The state of Texas, for example, allocates about 200 million dollars every year to get its hands on new technologies, patent protection, as well as "HEAD HUNTING" in specified areas.
The main findings of the survey
1. About 50% of the researchers report that they seriously considered returning to Israel in the last year. The potential for curbing the "brain drain" or returning "brains to industry" in the field of biotechnology is therefore extremely significant.
2. The decision regarding the choice of residence is made while balancing two central axes: the need for a research-professional challenge and the need for connection and closeness to Israel and family.
3. It is important to note that the standard of living and salary are only secondary factors in deciding whether to return to Israel.
4. Over 90% of the scientists report that the main reason for their decision to leave Israel and spend several years abroad is the need to acquire professional experience and specialize in the most advanced research methods.
5. About 50% of the researchers report that the main reason why they tend to stay abroad and not return to Israel is the lack of a professional challenge and the absence of jobs (in academia or industry) that meet the research interest and the desired level of professional challenge.
6. The main reason why researchers tend to return to Israel is the relationship with family and friends and the desire for their children to grow up and be educated in Israel. This, despite the fact that most researchers report that the education system for children where they live is much better than the Israeli one. This expresses a warm connection to the country and a desire to live and raise children there.
7. Only 2% of researchers report that they would have been able to find a suitable job in Israel without difficulty. About 90% report that they would have had to compromise on the salary and the professional challenge (or on both together). This distribution does not change between researchers who report that their familiarity with the Israeli labor market is good or very good.
8. Most of the scientists report that they would like to know more about vacancies in Israel and their nature.
9. 70% of them report that they did not feel that they gave up a professional opportunity or promotion upon moving abroad
The obvious conclusion from this is that today, academia and industry in Israel are not seen as offering a real employment alternative in the eyes of Israeli researchers abroad. The emotional connection to Israel is a strong connection, especially for married couples with children. Salary and living conditions are not decisive factors in the decision to stay abroad. Therefore - in the short term, the Israeli government should focus more on creating an information infrastructure about jobs in the field that will be available and accessible to Israeli researchers around the world. In the long term, stopping the brain drain should focus on creating a research infrastructure and a stock of vacancies in the fields of biotechnology.
A multivariate regression analysis was conducted in order to learn about the relationship between different variables and the probability of returning to live in Israel. From the results of the analysis we learn that the "life cycle" of Israeli scientists abroad begins with a period of 3-4 years of study and professional training in research institutions or in industry (Graph 1). In this first period, the probability of returning to Israel is relatively low. After that, in a period of 5-13 years from the day they left the country, the willingness to return to the country increases significantly and reaches a peak about 9 years after leaving the country. Those scientists who stayed abroad for 13 years or more, again present a relatively low probability of returning to Israel. Marriage and the desire to raise children significantly increase the willingness to return to Israel. The widespread assessment that there are no "good" jobs available in Israel today, lowers the probability of returning.
Minister Eli Yishai attaches great importance to this issue, which must not only be considered but also acted upon decisively, "Israel is blessed with some of the best human capital in the world, this is almost the only natural resource that exists in the State of Israel, and if we do not take a stand today, we will lose the global campaign. It is clear to me that there is a natural migration and a need to go abroad to develop, and I believe that this only enriches and empowers, but on the other hand, we must work even harder to reduce the phenomenon of flight and create an alternative that will absorb, whether in industry or academia, those talented Israelis living abroad today. Israel is the first country in the world to establish start-up companies, a world leader in the number of registered patents; Quite a few groundbreaking inventions and developments have come out of our gates. We are a technological powerhouse and definitely a light to the Gentiles. Unfortunately, we are seeing a slow retreat in global leadership, which I associate with the continuous erosion of R&D budgets. We have also witnessed a massive erosion for many years in the research budgets of the universities and the failure to create new standards for young researchers. We are currently losing the future infrastructure of the innovative and groundbreaking industry that needs to continue to develop and lead," said Minister Yeshi.
Minister Yishai also added that "in order to deal with this problem, we must act in two channels at the same time, one - expanding the reliance of the economy on more than one basis - the technological one, by creating another generator of growth such as the traditional industry, which we cultivate and strengthen today - In accordance with the report submitted to me. And the second channel that must be worked on is the constant cultivation of human capital in Israel, which is the real generator of growth."
In light of the findings of the survey, an initial plan was prepared at the Ministry of Education and Culture that will operate on several levels:
1. A delegation of professional representatives from the Ministry of Taxation and Industry to hold a "Road Show" before that potential audience, during which the target population will be presented with an overview of the industry in Israel, existing opportunities and the creation of connections to it. The goal is also to arrive with a pool of potential jobs in the market
2. Establishing a website that will serve the public of Israelis living abroad on the one hand and the industry on the other in order to create more opportunities for employment and research
3. Increasing aid to the bio industry in Israel - mainly through the chief scientist tool
4. Encouraging the implementation of mutual procurement committed to support R&D for industry and academia in order to inject additional foreign money into the field
5. Focusing the efforts of the headquarters for the promotion of investments, in the Ministry of Taxation, to attract dedicated investments in the field of life sciences
6 תגובות
All over the world, companies work on venture capital, but because of the high cost of biotechnological development, the level of proof required by the potential investor from the entrepreneur who claims that his product has a future is extremely high, i.e. the choice is more murderous.
And in other countries?
Do biotech companies in the "center" (USA / Tel Aviv) also work with the venture capital method?
Want to ask, actually, what is the 'government funding' that the writers expect? Supporting such companies costs many millions, it is impossible for the Ministry of Finance to function as a venture capital fund.
I know the subject a little closely.
Sometimes you don't notice that in biotechnological research there are some inherent problems that there is no simple way to overcome:
In computers, most of the company's budget is found on salaries because computers and software cost literally pennies, but in biotechnology most of the company's budget is found on raw materials and process outsourcing. These are things that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and even millions, and if they do not yield the desired result, the company simply closes; In other words: there is no way to cut costs (unlike computers where you can start a business even from the basement of a house) and there is almost no second chance.
Another problem is the great dependence of a company on a company. Unlike computers where you can isolate yourself somewhere and develop as much as you like, and in any case you can send material by email, in biotechnology you must use outsourcing so that certain processes are carried out by companies that specialize in it more than you, and you cannot send the materials by email. This makes it difficult An entrepreneur decides that he wants to establish a company in Kiryat Shmona (which adds costs because of the expenses for maintaining the business), and this makes it easier for companies that are concentrated in one place, for example, in the center of the country or in America.
Also the licensing process (for marketing) that is required for developments in the biotechnological field (medicines, for example) makes development costs extremely expensive and prolongs them so that the path from idea to marketing becomes a real nightmare for companies that specialize in this.
Bye.
Roy / Ami –
How does biotechnology differ from "standard" high-tech?
I mean, why aren't there many biotech companies at the expense of venture capital funds or local angels?
Ami,
As a resident of the north, I actually notice the opposite phenomenon. All the biotechnologists say that only in the center can you find a serious job in the profession, while in the north there are almost no job opportunities.
I agree with you about the government funding that should support the technology spur of the future.
Roy.
There is no work in Israel for biotechnologists.
Everyone talks about how much this profession is needed and how much the market is hungry for brains and researchers. In one word - vanity. In two words - vanity vanity.
There is no money, no work, no economic stability that will allow for a stable future. If there is anything at all, it is usually found in Sefer cities far from Tel Aviv (and sorry for the province, but young people, young scientists - want to live in the center and not in Migdal Ha'Emek or Sde Boker).
Government funding is only one part of all this. Flight, creating regional connections and providing complete scientific freedom are the key to a flourishing scientific future. The biotechnology ring in particular and science in general should be thickened and more employment centers should be created, such as the science chapter in Rehovot.
Greetings friends,
Ami Bachar