Source: Politico Europe
Introduction
Greece’s strategic efforts to reverse the nation’s long-standing brain drain have suffered a significant setback. A high-profile initiative designed to lure elite scientists back to the country has collapsed, leaving researchers feeling betrayed and highlighting deep systemic failures in the nation’s academic and professional support infrastructure.
The failure of the “Trust your Stars” program is being viewed as a cautionary tale for the Greek government’s broader “Brain Regain” agenda. While the country has seen a recent uptick in returning citizens, the scientific community argues that the state’s inability to deliver on promised research funding suggests that Greece continues to sabotage its own plans to reverse the brain drain of scientists.
What Happened
The “Trust your Stars” project was intended to be an €80 million cornerstone for reintegrating top-tier researchers, supported by the European Union’s post-pandemic Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). After a long, rigorous submission process, 145 research projects were selected from an initial pool of over 1,200 proposals.
Following the announcement of the winning projects in July 2025, the program faced immediate criticism, including legal complaints and challenges regarding the transparency of the evaluation process. By May 2026, the Ministry of Education confirmed that the project had been removed from the national recovery plan, leaving successful applicants in limbo without formal contracts or funding.
Background
The Greek financial crisis, which commenced in 2008, triggered a massive exodus of approximately 500,000 citizens. Unlike previous waves of migration, this departure was characterized by the loss of highly educated and specialized professionals, which contributed to a 25 percent contraction of the national economy and soaring unemployment rates.
In response, the government launched the “Brain Regain” initiative, which included incentives such as a seven-year, 50 percent income tax exemption. Recent data from the OECD Diaspora Review indicates that 2023 was a turning point, with 98,000 Greeks returning to the country compared to 69,000 who departed during the 2023–2024 period.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Beginning of the Greek financial crisis. |
| July 22, 2025 | Official publication of the 145 selected research projects. |
| January 2026 | Development Ministry claims €40 million in payments were made. |
| May 2026 | Education Ministry confirms the project's removal from the RRF. |
| July 15, 2026 | Finance Ministry pledges to settle outstanding legal obligations. |
| December 31, 2029 | Original deadline for the completion of the RRF budget. |
Key Details
The cancellation of the “Trust your Stars” program has been exacerbated by a lack of communication from government officials. Many researchers report that they were never formally notified of the program’s cancellation, despite having turned down international opportunities to participate in the initiative.
Critics, including Professor Aristides Hatzis, argue that the government’s failure violates the principle of “legitimate trust” between the state and its citizens. While the Ministry of Education maintains that the funds were simply redirected to other RRF-backed actions, the scientific community remains vocal about the lack of transparency and the absence of a reliable framework for supporting research.
Impact
The fallout has alienated a significant portion of the scientific community. Prominent voices in academia have publicly advised young researchers to remain abroad, arguing that the conditions required for a meaningful return are currently absent in Greece.
Concerns remain regarding the overall decline in research investment. In 2025, research spending fell to approximately €1.27 billion, representing 0.51 percent of the national GDP, down from €1.30 billion in 2024. This trend, combined with low salaries and the lack of an independent, meritocratic funding body, continues to hinder the country's ability to retain and attract talent.
What Happens Next
The Ministry of Finance has issued a statement indicating that it is attempting to secure resources to address outstanding financial obligations resulting from legal commitments made before the program was revoked. However, skepticism persists among researchers who note that the lack of signed contracts complicates the possibility of legal recourse.
Experts like Petros Bouras-Vallianatos continue to advocate for the creation of an independent body that adheres to international evaluation standards. Without such structural changes, they argue that the state’s efforts to reverse the brain drain will continue to be viewed as performative rather than substantive.
