Reverse Brain-Drain (Part 3)

There are more than 1,000,000 skilled immigrant workers – scientists, engineers, doctors and researchers competing for 120,000 permanent U.S. resident visas each year says the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

What that means is that some skilled workers will be/are forced to return home after their visas expire thus creating a 'brain-drain' in the United States.

The contributions of foreign nationals have a

measurable impact on U.S. intellectual property.

Last year, one in six international applications for patents from the United States had an inventor or co-inventor with a Chinese-heritage name – UP – 11.2% from eight years ago. 

The contribution of inventors with Indian-heritage names increased to 13.7% from a 9.5% base eight years ago. 

It might be argued that every time a Chinese scientist or Indian engineer goes back to their home country, there are seven or eight others waiting to take his/her place.

That may be true…but many processes must be started over again.

Then again…fresh blood can mean new ideas.

I am not sure the 'reversed brain-drain' is something to worry about.

What do you think?