When Prof. Yin Zhiyao publicly mentioned that “most of the chip experts in the US are Chinese”, my first reaction was mixed. Was it pride? Maybe a little; but more is a kind of hidden regret - these in a foreign country to make outstanding contributions to the scientists, should be the backbone of China‘s technological development, but has become someone else‘s hands “trump card”. This thing that is not helpless, certainly false.

Talent drain, what is going on?

Behind this matter, not just a matter of personal choice. We often hear “science without borders”, but the fact is that scientists have borders. When the country needs them, they choose to stay or leave, more related to the general environment.

Looking back to the early days of the founding of the country, those scientists who returned to China resolutely, such as Qian Xuesen, they gave up the favorable treatment abroad, and took the risk to join the domestic construction. But at that time, China, to their remuneration is not generous, and even the most basic experimental conditions have to rely on their own a little bit to build.

But now, the situation has changed a bit. We can‘t seem to give them enough reasons to attract them.

What is missing in education?

I think that in these years, I am afraid that the weakening of patriotic education is one of them. To be honest, most of the patriotic education in schools stays in form, and students are more concerned about their academic performance and future. As for the country, it is occasionally mentioned, but it is more like a backdrop. The relationship between academics and the state has become a bit of a back-and-forth affair.

This is not difficult to understand. After all, when it comes to personal interests and lofty ideals, many people inevitably choose the former. If the idea of the country is not rooted in their childhood, how can we expect them to sacrifice their personal interests for the country when they become adults?

Institutional problems, but also can not get around the hurdles

Of course, the brain drain, and the system can not be unrelated. Researchers in the country often face a variety of administrative cumbersome, research funding applications, the use of layers of approval. Compared with this, the academic atmosphere abroad is much freer, what do you want to do, the soil of innovation is naturally more fertile.

More importantly, the allocation of resources in China is often unsatisfactory. Some people who are really dedicated to scientific research do not get the support they deserve, but instead waste their time in socializing and “relationships”. Over the years, the “academic circle network” is not uncommon, no wonder many people are disillusioned.

Talent return: a positive signal

However, we can not just focus on the problem not to see the change. In recent years, with the country‘s emphasis on high-end talent, a variety of preferential policies continue to launch.

From the “Thousand Talents Program” to “Overseas Talent Attraction Program”, these have attracted a number of scientists to return to China. According to the data, in recent years, the proportion of students returning to China has risen sharply, especially in some cutting-edge fields.

But this is just the beginning. For these people to really stay, they still have to be given hope. A transparent, efficient and supportive environment for innovation will allow talents to take root without fear, rather than returning overseas.

Technology necklace, where is the problem?