Mapping scientific mobility in leading Eurozone economies: insights from ORCID data analysis

Abstract

Research into the mobility of researchers has garnered increasing interest among institutions and governments. In this study, we use ORCID as a data source to analyse the mobility of researchers trained in Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Italy, the main economies of the Eurozone according to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Our approach focuses on the connection between the place of education and employment, identifying graduates and their countries of employment through profiles on ORCID. We conduct a comparative analysis of preferred destinations, considering various levels of education, and develop a migration rate for researchers from these countries. The results reveal a clear preference for the United States and Great Britain among graduates, influenced by linguistic affinities and historical cultural relations. Regarding the migration rate, we observe that all countries retain more graduates than those who emigrate. France leads in emigration, followed by the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Spain. This analysis of researcher mobility in the Eurozone allows us to track migratory flows, identifying both sending and receiving countries. These findings are essential for the formulation of scientific and migration policies and contribute to understanding individual behaviour in building academic and professional careers.