In recent years: more than 33,000 Israeli academics live abroad

33.073 of degree recipients from institutions of higher education in Israel, which constitute 5.8% of all academic degree owners, stayed abroad from 1980 to 2011, for at least three years. The situation did not change in 2017, according to figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics, which were revealed by the Knesset's Immigration and Absorption Committee. The committee discussed "brain drain," and ways to bring Israeli academics back from abroad. In the fields of exact sciences and engineering, the percentage of those residing in Israel is higher than that of degree recipients in the humanities and social sciences. Recipients of a second degree in medicine The rate of stay abroad is 9.2%, which is considered to be a particularly high percentage.
MK Elazar Stern said that brain drain among academics is a growing phenomenon, and CBS data indicate that there is a downward trend in the number of returning academics between the years 2014-2017.
Stern also noted that about 25% of those with PhDs in mathematics from Israeli institutions are living and working abroad, and about 20% of those with a third degree in computer science, according to the CBS data of August 14, 2018, Compared to the number of Israelis who returned in 2016 was negative and stood at about 6.3 thousand Israelis.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the science abroad organization, an organization that works to maintain contact with Israeli researchers around the world and to return them to Israel. The association helps researchers staying abroad to maintain contact with Israel and return to Israel to pursue a career in academia and industry.

Most scientists during or near the end of the post-doctorate show a desire to return to Israel, preferring to find an academic position in leading institutions. However, for Israelis who have integrated into industry in the US, the desire to return to Israel is lower, because industry in Israel is less attractive in terms of wages and opportunities.
The motivation to return to Israel stems from a desire for closeness to family and friends, language culture and sense of belonging, a desire to raise children in Israel and the employment of a spouse.
 The main obstacles to returning to Israel are difficulties in finding an academic position when there are fewer jobs in Israel compared with the number of graduates, lack of professional contact with institutions where they studied or worked in Israel, and economic comfort in the United States and Western Europe compared to living in Israel.
Chairman of the Science Committee MK Avraham Negosa of the Likud emphasized that in order to bring back Israeli academics living abroad, scientists who have already returned to Israel should be supported, "If we know how to properly absorb those who have returned as easily as possible to them, they will be joined again. But if the returnees are frustrated and disillusioned, we will not achieve the goal. The right of returnees to choose between academic absorption and absorption in industry, and the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption should be the answer to the needs of returning residents. "Negus proposed the establishment of an inter-ministerial team to formulate a comprehensive plan to encourage the return of scientists and doctors abroad. The team will set up a training and mediation program for the training of scientists in the transition from academia to industry in Israel, and will publish the main points of the program in the Jewish communities abroad and in the sites of government ministries in Israel.
MK Stern added, "Unfortunately, they have temptations and therefore they are forced to leave the country. The size of the challenge requires us to examine all the possibilities for the motives that lead to finding solutions. We need to analyze the places to go and draw conclusions from this. "
Monica Lev-Cohen, director of the Israeli Association of Israeli Scientists, said that "the main obstacle to return is that there are not enough academic and industrial standards in Israel that are not enough for academics. In the United States. "
According to Mati Gil, Teva's representative, the company has a business need and an unrealized potential to absorb returning scientists, but we are unable to fill vacancies and are waiting for researchers to return. "The cost of absorbing every researcher returning to Israel is very high and is estimated at $ 1 million - an investment One-time construction of a laboratory, if there is room for it, and to increase the devices requires a lot of money.
The representative of the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption, Granit Ben Ezra-Singer, replied that "our goal is to open many opportunities for absorption in Israel and to assist them. Scholarships ". According to her, in 2018, 133 industrial scientists were absorbed - 39 returning residents and 94 immigrants.
Eyal Medan, who is in charge of the Finance Ministry's budget department, told the committee that the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption has plans to encourage scientists to immigrate to Israel in the sum of NIS 100 million. NIS 5 million - Subsidies and grants to senior scientists from 5 years to full subsidy until pension, Shapira - NIS 15 million - subsidization of non-senior scientists of 3 years, actions to encourage scientists to immigrate to Israel - NIS 2.25 million - H. Conferences abroad to encourage the return of scientists.
Ido Sofer, coordinator of higher education in all the budgets, added that "the Ministry of Finance sees the lack of skilled manpower as the main obstacle to the industry's growth, and therefore works together with the relevant government ministries and bodies to deal with this.
As part of the establishment of the National Innovation Authority, the "Social-Public Arena" was established and is active in developing the human capital required for the high-tech sector, including increasing the integration of various populations in the industry, as well as activities aimed at encouraging the arrival of foreign workers. And to act accordingly.