Brain Gain? Patterns of immigration and career of foreign researchers in Bavaria

The efms was member of the Bavarian research association Migration und Wissen (ForMig).

In its empirical research project "Brain Gain?" the institute analysed the patterns of immigration and career as well as the working conditions of foreign researchers in Bavaria. The representatives of the target group act as experts and generate and impart knowledge constituting a decisive basis for the development of the society and the economic productivity. We assumed that this group contributes significantly to the brain gain in Bavaria and Germany.

In the empirical research we collected basic data on foreign researchers in Bavaria that were missing so far. Furthermore we developed and tested hypotheses explaining decisions to emigrate, migration patterns and the contributions to the production of knowledge by the target group. The study led to an inventory of the top foreign scientists working at Bavarian non-academic research institutions. Regarding the practical aspect of the application of the research results the study asked how the potentials of the target group can be increased and used more effectively. In this context we aimed at explaining whether and how the migration movements of leading scientists can be regulated.

Funding: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst
Completion: 31.12.2012
Project manager: Prof. Friedrich Heckmann
Researcher: Edda Currle
Publication:
Edda Currle: Mobilität von Wissenschaftlern nach Deutschland: ein aktuelles Thema für die Migrationsforschung. In: Bischof, Anna; Busse, Miriam; Currle, Edda; Lochner, Susanne; Ungruhe, Christian (Hrsg.): Migration und Teilhabe auf dem Arbeitsmarkt: Genutzte Potenziale oder verschwendete Ressourcen? Arbeitspapiere aus der Verbundforschung. Nummer 2 - September 2012. Forschungsverbund Migration und Wissen ForMig, München 2012, S. 73-100
Edda Currle: Migranten auf dem deutschen Arbeitsmarkt: Chancen und Potenziale, Herausforderungen und Hindernisse. In: Bischof, Anna; Busse, Miriam; Currle, Edda; Lochner, Susanne; Ungruhe, Christian (Hrsg.): Migration und Teilhabe auf dem Arbeitsmarkt: Genutzte Potenziale oder verschwendete Ressourcen? Arbeitspapiere aus der Verbundforschung. Nummer 2 - September 2012. Forschungsverbund Migration und Wissen ForMig, München 2012, S. 5-7 (zusammen mit Anna Bischof)
Edda Currle: Focus group discussions in migration research. In: Innovating Qualitative Research: New Directions in Migration. Arbeitspapiere aus der Verbundforschung. Nummer 1 - September 2011. Forschungsverbund Migration und Wissen ForMig, Munich 2011