The European Commission, in close collaboration with the Member-States of the European Union and the countries involved in the 6th Research Framework Programme, is promoting an integrated mobility strategy for researchers (cross-border – inter-regional and between university and research institutions, undertakings and other agencies).
The aim of this endeavour is, through the creation of a European Network of Mobility Centres (EURAXESS Network), to provide individualised assistance to mobile researchers and their families on all the issues relating to their professional and everyday life.
In greater detail, by this initiative it is sought to improve the existing state of mobility of researchers in Europe through the elimination as far as possible of obstacles of every nature – legal, administrative, tax, social security, etc. More specifically, the general task of the network includes briefing and assistance for researchers on matters such as entry conditions, visas, work permits, recognition of degrees, job supply, salaries, taxation, pensions, health care, social security, residence, children's day-care centres, education, learning of a language, access to the culture of the host country. In this way, the creation of a real European space for research is being aided, inter alia by attracting top-quality researchers from all over the world.
Greece’s Mobility Network
The National Network is made up of 11 members, which correspond to six geographical zones.
Zone 1 – Macedonia:
Zone 2 – Thrace:
Zone 3 – Peloponnese, Western / Central Greece, Ionian Islands:
Zone 4 – Thessaly, Eastern / Central Greece, Aegean Islands:
Zone 5 – Attica
- Industrial Property Organisation (ΟΒΙ)
Zone 6 – Crete:
The Co-ordinator for the implementation of the programme in Greece (Bridgehead Organisation) is the National Centre for Research & Technological Development (ΕΚΕΤΑ).
The Industrial Property Organisation is a specialist centre providing services on the Network within the framework of its competences. In greater detail, it gives priority to the provision of information and services to mobile researchers who address themselves to the Network for assistance and briefs its other members by means of educational seminars on issues within its competences, contributes to replies on the Network, etc. Although it is shown as belonging to Zone 5, because it has its registered office in Athens, in reality its services concern and apply to all the zones of Greece.
Greece attaches particular importance to the advancement of human resources and particularly supports actions which encourage two-way mobility of researchers, to and from this country.
Recently, OBI has added to the services provided the possibility of pre search free of charge, specially for members of the Network (this can be requested through the National Centre for Research and Technological Development, the Network's co-ordinator).
The european Charter for researchers and the Code of Conduct for the recruitment of researchers
From Brain Drain to Brain Gain - The Morebrain Project
The movement of researchers out of Europe - 'Brain Drain' - is an issue of deep concern both on an individual nation and pan-European scale. By understanding the factors which influence researchers' mobility decisions, we can potentially impact public policy governing mobility, and we see the possibility to convert brain drain into brain gain.
To better understand the mobility of researchers this Researcher Survey was devised and compiled through the Morebrain Project. This EU FP71 funded project is a collaboration between Iceland, Ireland, Israel and Spain as each of those countries has long experience with a research population living and working abroad.
Your Experiences
We invite you to participate in this questionnaire to tell us about your experiences as a researcher. Your answers will help us to understand the push and pull factors which influence the mobility decisions of researchers. The survey should only take 15 minutes to complete. We will not share your answers in any personally identifiable form with any other third party.
Your answers are very important to us.
More Information
Should you require further information on the survey please contact MOREBRAIN Project Member and Survey Manager Magda Wislocka at magda@iua.ie.
1 The MOREBRAIN European Union transnational project is funded under the EU Seventh Framework Programme call for "Transnational collaboration among EURAXESS Services Network Partners".