With the central message that Greece’s relationship with Greeks abroad now hinges on a return to systematic engagement, cooperation, and meaningful impact, the BrainReGain Initiative’s Annual Conference, titled “RETURN. TALENT. IMPACT. – Connecting Greece with Global Hellenism.”
The BrainReGain Initiative presented the new 360° model for connecting Greece with global Greek talent, bringing together the government, businesses, the academic community, the diaspora, and the younger generation.
The Conference was held under the auspices of the Holy Archdiocese of America, the Ministry of Education, Religion, and Sports, the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, and the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV).
The conference was opened by the President of BrainReGain and Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Hellenism in Action,” Konstantinos Kesentes, who presented the organization’s new 360° model. As noted in Mr. Hatzidakis’s opening remarks, “BrainReGain is part of a major national effort: to bring back to their homeland the young people who left during the years of the economic crisis.” His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America emphasized in his remarks that “Greeks of the diaspora maintain unbreakable ties to the language, culture, and spiritual heritage of our people. When these bonds are transformed into creative action, then nostalgia becomes a vision, memory becomes a responsibility, and love for the homeland becomes a force for renewal.” The keynote speaker was Dr. Georgios-Stylianos Prevelakis, Professor Emeritus of Geopolitics at the Sorbonne University, on the topic “From Brain Drain to Brain Network: How Hellenism is Rebuilding Its Bridges”. After describing how the concept of the diaspora incorporates the concept of a network, he concluded unequivocally that the diasporic nature of Hellenism constitutes a great strength.
The Conference established a new framework for action to harness global Greek talent, bringing together key stakeholders within the same ecosystem: representatives of the government, the business and academic communities, the Greek diaspora, the labor market, the health sector, technology, research, and the younger generation.
The focus was on the Initiative’s new 360° model, through the BrainReConnect, BrainExchange, BrainExplore, and “Health Returns Home,” which shift the conversation from brain drain to a dynamic network of return, exchange of experience, international cooperation, and generating a meaningful impact for the country.
The Minister of Education, Religion, and Sports, Sofia Zacharaki, emphasized the importance of supporting Greek communities abroad that seek to maintain active ties with Greece. The Minister also emphasized that the relationship with the language and the connection to culture provide a very good foundation for this effort.
The conference was also attended by Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance George Kotsiras, Deputy Minister of Health Marios Themistokleous, and Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, Maira Myrogianni, the Director of the National Cybersecurity Authority, Michalis Bletas, and the Special Secretary for Long-Term Planning of the Presidency of the Government, Ioannis MAstrogiorgios.
Particular emphasis was placed on the themes of attracting and retaining talent, international mobility, artificial intelligence, the “Health Returns Home,” and the role of the diaspora as a strategic network of knowledge and development for the country.
The Conference concluded with the presentation of research findings by General Director Katerina Balilaki, which highlighted that the goal is to ensure that the connection with the Global Greek, emphasizing that the new integrated system “was created precisely so that individuals can be supported throughout their entire journey abroad, so that our children can gain experience in an international environment and, in any case, be able to return to their country, remaining connected to Hellenism as an identity and as a sentiment.”
BrainReGain continues to work toward a more outward-looking Greece, competitive, and connected to Greek talent worldwide, transforming the international experience and networks of Greeks into a source of strength and a bridge to creativity for the country’s future.
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