Credit: J. BARBER/CORBIS

In Central and South American countries fearing brain drain, government-sponsored efforts to attract researchers home from overseas typically offer lucrative compensation packages. But many scientists have an additional priority — their family members, who are often of different nationalities. In the case of Argentina, immigration procedures for non-Argentinian partners and children often take months or even years to complete. An agreement struck last month as part of the country's repatriation programme for scientists now promises to smooth the transition.

On 11 June, Argentina's Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation and the National Immigration Department signed an agreement to speed up immigration procedures for scientists who want to return to Argentina with their foreign families. The agreement means that applicants need present only part of the required paperwork and will receive residence permits within a couple of months, estimates science minister Lino Barañao. The agreement also applies to foreign researchers who wish to work in Argentina, either temporarily or permanently.

According to Barañao, the agreement will “facilitate a process which is often very cumbersome”. The aim is to attract both Argentinian and foreign researchers from abroad who can “bring new points of view or ideas, which in turn trigger new research possibilities”, says Vicente Macagno, vice-president of scientific affairs at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council, based in Buenos Aires.

The migration agreement should help, says biologist Alejandro Nadra, who, after earning his PhD in 2005, went to Spain to find work. He returned to Argentina in June 2009 with his daughter and wife, also a researcher. They are Argentinian, which made the move relatively smooth. But Nadra sees great value in mitigating delays for future colleagues.

The family agreement is an extension of the RAICES (Spanish for 'roots') programme, started in 2003 by Argentina's science ministry to encourage the repatriation of Argentinian scientists. Since its implementation, RAICES has helped 768 Argentinian scientists return home by providing subsidies that cover the costs of moving, private or state grants to cover salary until a job is secured, and funds for research. In 2004, there were around 59,000 researchers in Argentina; in 2008 that number rose to more than 79,000, with 81% of them in state institutions.

Government science funding rose from 0.23% of gross domestic product in 2002 to 0.42% in 2010. According to Barañao, many investigators have chosen to return because of the increasingly “important role” of science and technology in Argentina.