Since its creation in 1975 the initiative to lure back Filipino scientists, technologists, and experts have already netted over 664 awardees, and counting; 71 percent male, 29 percent female

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HILTON MANILA, Newport World Resorts, Pasay City, Oct. 3, 2025 (SDN) — Based on an artificial intelligence (AI)-aided search on Google, the Philippines has been experiencing a “brain drain” problem since the 1970s.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of skilled Filipino professionals s have been leaving the country, the major reason of which is life’s economic challenges, meaning in search of financial security abroad for themselves and their respective family.

Initial waves of the brain drain among Filipinos included those from the medical and skilled trades, then IT professionals in the 1990s, and don’t forget the hundreds of thousands, even over a million, of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East alone, both skilled and non-skilled, each looking to work for the betterment of their families.

No surprise their leaving the country and their families behind, the reasons being “low domestic salaries, poor working conditions, and socio-political instability that encourage migration.”

Overseas, these fuels of the nation’s brain drain are lured by better salaries in developed countries…more stable employment opportunities” as they try to find the light to shine on their struggling families back home.

But it’s not like the government isn’t aware of the exodus of skilled professionals and not doing anything either.

In fairness, through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) headed today by Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr. the government has in place the Balik Scientist Program (BSP) that since 1975 has been at the forefront of luring skilled professionals back to the country.

Watch, SDN meets two of the Balik Scientist awardees at the convention (Note, subtitle is by YouTube): https://youtu.be/qEA75VwzFOM?si=13fqBMLhA5lBXmUG

The country’s science chief said in his Welcome Message at the 11th Annual Balik Scientist Program Convention that the BSP is one of the flagship initiatives embodying DOST’s vision.

He connected the BSP to “patriotism”, one’s strong love and support for country.

“At its core, the Balik Scientist Program is an act of patriotism. To return, to share expertise, and to dedicate one’s talent for the benefit of fellow Filipinos is a profound expression of love of country. Our Balik Scientists remind us that service to the nation is not limited by borders — that wherever knowledge is gained, its highest purpose is realized when it uplifts our people and strengthens our country,” emphasizes Solidum.

He pointed out that this year’s convention theme that revolves around “Balik Scientists in Action: Real-world Impact, Powered by Filipino Minds” captures this essence.

“It reminds us that the strength of the Balik Scientist Program lies not only in bringing back experts but also in translating their expertise into action, policies, technologies, systems, and solutions that directly benefit our people.”

As the country’s primary science mover, the DOST, as gleaned from its online portal, wants “to be the leading enabler and provider of science, technology, and innovation (STI) solutions for national development.”

Solidum explained the essence of the BSP, which is the program “designed to encourage highly skilled Filipinos abroad to return and share their knowledge and expertise.”

The DOST through the BSP encourages Filipino scientists, technologists, and experts to come home and share their expertise to promote scientific, agro-industrial, and economic development with their countrymen.

SDN – SciTech & Digital News reached to Dr. Enrico C. Paringit, executive director of the Philippine Council on Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) to get his thoughts. He was a key figure at the BSP convention.

He said the Balik Scientist initiative “helps the country in reversing brain drain by providing means for Filipino S&T (science & technology) talent” to return to their homeland “to share their knowledge they gained abroad and create partnerships with local institutions in addressing national priorities”. In this way, he added, the BSP keeps local talent productive and contributory to development.

On the other hand, Paringit acknowledged that the program has challenges and that they need to be overcome.

For him the BSP has three top challenges:

• 1. Lack of awareness on the BSP Opportunities for Filipino S&T expatriates abroad.
• 2. Universities, agencies and industries familiarity with the mechanics and benefits of having engagement with BSP hosts.
• 3. Funding to support R&D collaboration with Filipino researchers based in the Philippines.

Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), who delivered the Keynote Address at the convention, revealed the program had already convinced scores of scientists, with 664 BSP awardees coming home to their country.

She also cited the country’s increasing gap in the availability of workers trained in STEM (Science, Technology, English, and Mathematics), namely: 13,964 in Life Sciences, 13,285 in Mathematics and Statistics, 9,689 in Physical Sciences, and 569,903 in Engineering.

As Agrupis went on, she took note of the Top 2 percent Scientists in World (per 2024 Stanford University, ASEAN Comparison), with Singapore at the summit with 1,258; Malaysia, 769; Thailand, 392; Vietnam, 201; Indonesia, 159; and Philippines at the tail end with 66.

The CHED chairperson continued with figures on Enrollment, Participation Rates and Graduate Output which have remained low, citing the fields below:

• Agriculture
• Forestry
• Fisheries
• Veterinary and Natural Sciences
• Mathematics
• Statistics

On the other hand, she said that based on CHED figures reckoned by the numbers in 2023-2024 the STEM disciplines graduates were 14,507 for Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, and in Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Veterinary the number is 20,143.

BSP awardees presented a snapshot of their research studies at the convention, two of them Dr. Lowela Siargot Onggo and Dr. Christine Joyce Puno as they invited their fellow scientists based overseas to come back home, work not for oneself but for all, share what they know, work harder, be a Balik Scientist.

BSP awardees may choose from three arrangements, such as Short Term, Medium Term, and Long Term each with attendant benefits.

Solidum noted that the initiative to lure back Filipino researchers has transformed into something even bigger.

“It has evolved into a vital platform for collaboration, capacity building, and innovation,” he emphasizes.

DOST partners from the government, the academe, and industry, and other guests participated in the one-day event celebrating the successes of the Balik Scientist Program.

Solidum at the same time declared the mission of the DOST, “to direct, lead, and coordinate the country’s scientific, technological, and innovative efforts geared towards maximum benefits for the people.”

He assured that the science agency of the government is working to make sure that scientific and technological advances do not remain in laboratories or academic journals but, instead, “applied in ways that improve lives, strengthen industries, protect the environment, and prepare our nation for future challenges, or what we call ‘Agham na ramdam’ (Science that is felt).”

The country’s science chief went on to enumerate some of the DOST programs from R&D (research and development) initiatives like Tuklas Lunas for drug discovery, to technology support through SETUP (Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program) for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and digital transformation efforts the likes of Project SPARTA for data science and analytics.

“We also advance disaster resilience through GeoRisk Philippines, and promote future talent through the Science Education Institute or DOST-SEI’s scholarship programs,” he says.

“These efforts are backed by strong policies such as the Innovative Startup Act, which empowers Filipino enterprises to pursue STI-driven growth.”

The science chief of the country lauded the returning scientists’ contributions to their homeland, such as in agriculture, aquatic and natural resources, health, and industry, energy and emerging technology, saying the returnees have pioneered research in biomedical sciences, developed sustainable agricultural practices, introduced advanced technologies for energy and water systems, and mentored countless young researchers and innovators.

He said the work of the Balik Scientists “demonstrates that when the Filipino minds are empowered and supported, they create impact not only here at home, but also in the global scientific community.”

The returnee-scientists show the knowledge they gained overseas can be leveraged to solve local challenges buffeting the country as they also demonstrate how collaboration between scientists and institutions can generate breakthroughs and show how service to the country can take many shapes, in a laboratory, a classroom, a community, or in forming national policy.

Priority areas for the BSP are Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources; Health; and Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology.

Solidum credited the efforts of the DOST for contributing not just to programs and policies but improvements that are measurable in how the world perceives Philippine innovation.

“A good example is the 2025 Global Innovation Index published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The Philippines has achieved 50th place among 139 economies, even beating th 52nd target of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP),” he says.

Solidum voiced confidence the nation can still climb the ladder of excellence further through more foreign-based Filipino scientists embracing the government’s program that since 1975 to 2024 has now a pool of 664 awardees.

“As we open this convention, let us remember that the success of the Balik Scientist Program depends on strong partnerships,” he says, calling on DOST’s partner institutions to sustain their efforts in creating environments that provide a space for the BSP awardees to flourish, and their expertise utilized. — EDD K. Usman (©)

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How to apply for the DOST Balik Scientist Program

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