The past few decades have seen an intensification of international migration flows, particularly those involving highly skilled labour. The exodus of scientific elites from developing countries as they search for better personal and professional opportunities abroad has been a major global concern. This was traditionally seen as a net loss for the countries of origin and as a gain only for the richer industrialized countries of destination. However, debates on the subject in more recent times have highlighted that migration can contribute to the socioeconomic development of the home countries. This chapter discusses how transnational links and the mechanisms for interaction established between highly skilled migrants and their country of origin can effectively leverage the transfer of expertise, knowledge and managerial skills for the benefit of home country development. We show how the transnational activities of the scientific diaspora can help to advance the development of the specific sectors that require external expertise if institutional support is available.

Pe parcursul ultimelor decenii, fluxul migraţiei internaţionale şi, în special, al forţei de muncă calificate, s-a intensificat. Ridică semne de întrebare, în acest context, exodul elitelor ştiinţifice din ţările în curs de dezvoltare în căutarea unor oportunităţi personale şi profesionale mai bune. Acest fenomen este perceput, în mod tradiţional, ca o pierdere netă a ţărilor de origine şi ca un câştig doar pentru ţările de destinaţie puternic industrializate. Totuşi, dezbaterile recente au relevat că, în cazul în care migraţia este gestionată corect, ea poate contribui la dezvoltarea social-economică atât a ţărilor de origine, cât şi a ţărilor de destinaţie a migranţilor.