Al. Tsipras: urgent need to use the resources of the Recovery Fund

The need to make the most of its resources Recovery Fund to support young scientists, integrate them into the production process, and preventing a new wave of brain drain, emphasized the president of SYRIZA-PS, Alexis Tsipras, speaking at an event organized by Nikos Poulatzas Institute, on the topic «Young Scientists: Obstacles and Prospects.» He noted in particular: «We must not miss this great opportunity presented by the Recovery Fund’s resources. We must make a significant investment in human capital, research, and technology.».

He then outlined his own proposal, which is included in the «Greece+» program and operates on four levels:

-The first is the investment in research and knowledge.

-The second is the change in the production model. «We need to change our production model so that it can “tap into” the human potential that currently remains untapped. For example, today we are designing an economy centered on the green transition. ». We will need scientists who have studied the relevant field and can contribute. The same applies to the digital transition.".

-The third is the labor. «The country has no future if workers don’t feel secure. We must restore the sense of security, in order to unleash the country's scientific potential. In the country with the largest unemployment, The labor bill is coming that will set the conditions for a new generation of unemployed, underpaid professionals and will also fuel a new exodus».

-The fourth is the social issue. «Today there is a an attempt to nullify a social contract that has been in place for decades. A social contract based on the premise that every citizen could strive for a better life through education. This is being nullified. Mr. Patelis’s aversion to the Ph.D.s who are lazy. It reflects a certain mindset. Also, there is the “Ms. Kerameos’s ”monstrous bill,”, in the midst of pandemic and exclusions, decided to reduce the number of students admitted to universities by 20,000 to 30,000, », creating a problem for families who will seek other, financially burdensome solutions for their children.".

Mr. Tsipras harshly criticized the Mitsotakis government, saying: «The country has a highly educated scientific workforce that it is unable to integrate into its productive model, a untapped human capital. Instead of addressing the issue, the government is exacerbating the problem with its policies. Although it has far greater capacity to address it than previous governments, since found 37 billion in its coffers, it is able to borrow at very low rates, faces no fiscal constraints due to the escape clause, and for the future, it has a package that will total 70 billion. However, instead of having a strategy to address the problem, it is pursuing policies that exacerbate it. »Its strategy is to reduce labor costs.".

Mr. Tsipras analyzed the problem: «There are currently a large number of scientists working at universities, research centers, and companies under poor conditions, with flexible hours and low pay. This also leads to a brain drain. On the one hand, we have unemployed scientists, those in part-time or low-paying jobs, and on the other hand, we have a large number of professionals seeking work abroad. In fact, these are young people who have benefited from public funding during their studies, but are not staying in the country to contribute… The meritocracy but also the mismatch between supply and demand, leads to underemployment and emigration. What is the cause of this mismatch? There is a myth here that our country supposedly produces more scientists than it can absorb. This is not true; Greece is close to the OECD average. The truth is that there is reduced demand because »Greek businesses do not produce technologically complex products and services".

He referred to what his own government had done: «First of all, we identified the issue, even under very difficult fiscal conditions.” We tried to increase spending. In the first government, we established a research and technology portfolio and We increased research spending to 1%, while We made full use of all EU funds»… The resources we had at our disposal were not enough to address the issue, but we identified it and brought it to light.”.

He concluded by saying, «I believe we have an important opportunity that we must not miss. However, it is the government’s responsibility that we are not discussing how to prevent the brain drain. SYRIZA’s “Greece+” program places particular emphasis on young people. The country must move forward into the future, »combining economic growth, social cohesion, and environmental balance.".