Brain drain is a global phenomenon, defined as the emigration of highly trained or qualified intellectuals from a particular country. As the other name — human capital flight — suggests, once young students leave a developing country for a developed one to gain skills and education, or when high-level researchers find better opportunities elsewhere, the home country is a big loser when it comes to big talent.

In recent years though, another process, the so-called “reverse brain drain,” has increased in pace. As a result of economic and political conjunctures in the world — such as the financial crisis in the West, compared with the positive growth in the East — skilled researchers increasingly return to their home countries. Moreover, many governments today offer programs with powerful incentives to encourage the return of scientists, engineers and other educated elite. Turkey includes itself among countries that have seen positive results from such initiatives. Fresh information shows that from 2007 to 2013, 209 researchers returned to Turkey, while 1,790 scholars came for research.

Published in January 2014, the “Doctoral Recipients from US Universities” report ranked Turkey sixth in a list of foreign citizens who obtained US doctorates between 2002-12. What these students do after they graduate is equally important, and the Turkish government wants to have a say by providing incentives for their return.

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) is the institution that funds research and development conducted in the country, as well as the main engine for attracting skilled Turkish academics abroad back to Turkey. TUBITAK’s initiative offers researchers scholarships of 3,250 Turkish lira ($1,475) per month for a duration of two years. For research conducted in Turkey, recipients can be awarded up to 25,000 Turkish lira ($11,351). Other TUBITAK incentives include health insurance and a return plane ticket to Turkey.