The Retention Of Researchers In Brazilian Regions

Background: Regional development policies in Brazil date back to the 1950s, particularly after World War II, and encompass scientific and technological issues. Institutions like CNPq and CAPES were established to promote science and technology. Despite these efforts, the effectiveness of these policies in retaining highly qualified researchers in underdeveloped regions remains uncertain, necessitating further evaluation. Hypotheses and Methods: This study investigates whether postdoctoral fellowships provided by CNPq contribute to the retention of doctoral researchers in Brazil, with a specific focus on the North, Northeast, and Midwest regions. Four hypotheses were formulated: the existence of researcher mobility, the prevalence of researcher retention in regions of national interest, the impact of government incentives on retention, and the overall contribution of CNPq fellowships to national retention. Data from the Lattes and Fomento Panels were analyzed, utilizing multiple regression and logistic regression methods to assess relationships between researcher retention, location, and fellowship status. Results: The findings indicate significant mobility among researchers, with negative mobility noted in the South and Southeast and positive mobility in the North and Midwest. While postdoctoral fellowships positively influence retention in regions of interest, non-fellow researchers show even higher retention rates. Additionally, receiving a CNPq fellowship is associated with a lower likelihood of researchers staying in Brazil, suggesting that other factors beyond government incentives may play a more decisive role in researcher retention. Conclusion: CNPq postdoctoral fellowships do not consistently or significantly contribute to the retention of researchers in Brazil