The «Junta para Ampliación de Estudios e Investigaciones Científicas» as a model for attracting and retaining scientific knowledge: a look back at the history of Spanish researchers

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to explain a historic case that demonstrates that the retention and attraction of national scientists, not only are valid long-term strategies based on important investments in resources and infrastructure, but also other policies based on the training of researchers in international centres of prestige and their repatriation or attraction through the provision of an adequate research to return careerthey, can offer good results for the researcher and his country.

Firstly, we have studied a Spanish historical case: the «Junta para Ampliación de Estudios e Investigaciones Científicas (JAE)» and their results. Later, we have compared them with those offered by current programmes of repatriation of Spanish scientists abroad. In conclusion, the application of this methodology has revealed the formation of Spanish scientists abroad and their subsequent return to our country helped to prevent the phenomenon of brain drain and obtaining important achievements in Spanish science and economy.