Talent in Transit: Understanding Brain Drain in the Balkan EU Research Systems

This article explores the dynamics of brain drain in the research systems of four Balkan EU countries (Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Croatia) through a qualitative evidence synthesis of academic and institutional literature published between 2012 and 2024. The study examines the main factors for brain drain and skilled immigration, consequences, and the proper policy responses to the emigration of highly skilled professionals, with a focus on the sectors of research and innovation. The article’s analysis was based on a meta-synthesis of 33 relevant sources, including 26 peer-reviewed articles, 3 non-indexed publications, and 4 international reports. The evidence has been categorized, by theme, into push and pull factors, economic impact, brain drain consequences for national research systems, and public policy interventions. A dedicated section is also included, which examines the role of EU funding instruments and structural funds in shaping institutional capacity and influencing talent retention. Shared structural challenges have been identified across the region, including underfunding, limited career options, and weak reintegration mechanisms for returning researchers. Despite access to EU funding, national systems often lack the governance and strategic alignment required to convert EU financing into effective talent retention policies, while the concept of brain circulation is remaining more aspirational than operational in most contexts. The article tries to create literature novelty by offering a cross-country comparative analysis of skilled migration within the EU’s southeastern periphery and by highlighting the disconnect between EU-level program logic and domestic realities. It provides insights relevant for policy actors at both national and European levels. Recommendations include the integration of talent strategies into research governance reforms and more coherent engagement with academic diasporas.