{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]],"date-time":"2026-09-16T06:05:03Z","timestamp":1789538703817,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":60,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]],"date-time":"2026-09-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1789516800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Res. Metr. Anal."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Scientific diasporas have emerged as increasingly important actors in global science, technology, and innovation (STI) ecosystems. In the context of geopolitical fragmentation, technological competition, and intensifying global inequalities, talent mobility is no longer solely a migration issue but a strategic dimension of development, science diplomacy, and international influence. This policy review argues that Global South countries should move beyond traditional \u201cbrain drain\u201d narratives and instead adopt long-term strategies that view scientific diasporas as transnational development partners and components of broader \u201cnetworks of networks.\u201d Drawing on literature related to scientific diasporas, global talent competition, science diplomacy, and migration studies, this review analyzes how scientific diasporas contribute to development through knowledge transfer, institutional partnerships, capacity building, innovation ecosystems, and policy engagement. It also examines the implications of recent geopolitical shifts, including the growing global competition for talent, technological nationalism, changes in U.S. science and immigration environments, Europe's strategic talent policies, and the rise of emerging scientific hubs beyond the West. Particular attention is given to the Global South, South\u2013South cooperation, reverse brain drain, and the importance of equitable and inclusive knowledge systems. The paper concludes with policy recommendations aimed at strengthening science, technology, and innovation ecosystems and integrating scientific diasporas into national and international development strategies.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/frma.2026.1898634","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]],"date-time":"2026-09-16T05:33:10Z","timestamp":1789536790000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["From brain drain to geopolitical talent competition: scientific diasporas and the future of Global South development"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Derya","family":"Buyuktanir Karacan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"The Institute for International Science and Technology (IISPT), Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University","place":["Washington, DC, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daniel","family":"Tapia Takaki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Kansas","place":["Lawrence, KS, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","volume-title":"Science Diplomacy in an Era of Disruption","year":"2025"},{"key":"B2","volume-title":"America and the International Future of Science","year":"2020"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"898167","DOI":"10.3389\/frma.2022.898167","article-title":"Engaging scientific diasporas in STEAM education: the case of Science Clubs Colombia","volume":"7","author":"Avendano-Uribe","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. 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