Nurturing Brilliance: Fostering Talents Within European Frontiers [Promoted content]

In recent weeks, the world celebrated the achievements of brilliant scientists with Hungarian roots. Katalin Karikó, whose pioneering work laid the foundation for groundbreaking mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2023. A day later, Ferenc Krausz was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work in creating ultra-short pulses of light, offering a glimpse into the intricate dynamics of atoms and holding promise for enhanced disease detection.

Balázs Fürjes is Managing Director at EIT Health InnoStars.

Beyond these triumphs lies an inherent challenge. These two outstanding researchers created wonders in the U.S. and Germany instead of their native Hungary. As proud as we are of their recognition, it prompts tough questions about what must be done to enable the brightest researchers to succeed at home. This challenge extends beyond Hungary, affecting most countries in Southern, Central, and Eastern Europe, where the rate of innovation tends to be more moderate than in Western and Northern Europe or North America.

Katalin Karikó’s career trajectory gained widespread recognition in recent years. In a 2022 article, the American science writer Stuart Buck coined the term the “Karikó problem,” highlighting the struggle of researchers from less recognised countries and their institutions to gain recognition in the Western academic landscape. Earning her PhD at the University of Szeged in Hungary, Karikó remained relatively unknown in the Western world for a while, and after emigrating to the U.S. in 1985, she faced challenges securing funding for her mRNA research.

According to the article, the biochemist’s story is a tale of warning that coming from a progressing country and a less-recognised university, many promising researchers don’t have the right network to be taken seriously. While these young, promising researchers deserve global recognition, I view the issue from a different perspective: talent retention. Karikó succeeded due to her perseverance, but she did it abroad.

This phenomenon, commonly called brain drain, involves talented people seeking environments that nurture their ideas and provide vital resources for them to flourish. It’s not just about financial considerations; it’s about creating a space that cultivates ideation and innovation.

Europe has everything it needs to lead the new wave of deep-tech innovation. The EU is a global leader in science: 20% of top-quality publications come from this region. We have a talent base 17.5 million students in higher education and 1 million+ researchers. Europe also has a robust industrial base and a vibrant startup ecosystem. Although some areas in Southern, Central, and Eastern European countries are behind, they have high potential and are progressing fast.

However, Europe often lacks the talent and skilled labour necessary to leverage these new technologies. As part of the European Commission’s New European Innovation Agenda, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) addresses this talent gap through The Deep Tech Talent Initiative. The pioneering programme aims to skill one million people within deep tech fields by 2025.

The challenge remains: to retain these exceptional deep tech talents, we must build an ecosystem where they can live up to their potential without moving to another country. European leaders and members of the European innovation ecosystem must consider how to keep these individuals in our countries and ensure they have what they need to create visionary ideas, exceptional services and products. This means giving them the resources, financial support, networking opportunities, and credibility necessary to thrive.

At EIT Health InnoStars, one of eight geographical areas of EIT Health, we understand the importance of nourishing innovative talents and ideas. We do so by cultivating collaboration and connecting the different stakeholders of healthcare innovation ecosystems across 13 Central, Eastern, and Southern European countries. Numerous success stories, including the recent one from Italy where the 2023 edition of EIT Health i-Days took place, demonstrate that we are on the right track.

The i-Days initiative promotes health innovation among university students through dozens of European events. Students from all academic areas are introduced to practical health innovation tools and compete in teams to tackle real-life health challenges posed by EIT Health, local organisations, private corporations, or start-ups. These events, taking place in different countries across Europe, offer an excellent opportunity for learning, exchanging experiences, and feeling a part of a collective effort to contribute to a healthier society.

Nurturing brilliance also requires a collective effort. By retaining talent within European frontiers, fostering innovation, and bridging the innovation divide through initiatives like the Deep Tech Talent or i-Days we are contributing to a future where every aspiring innovator can bring their ideas to life in their home country. This shared commitment ensures that Europe realises its enormous potential and becomes a leader in the new wave of deep-tech innovation.