Talent, Brain Drain & Deep-Tech Retention
DATE & TIME:
April 23, 2026 10:40 am - 11:20 am
LOCATION:
| Africa’s space and deep-tech ambitions hinge on both infrastructure and people. As the continent continues to educate world-class engineers, scientists, and specialists who often leave to build their careers elsewhere, drawn by capital density, accessible research ecosystems, and predictable career pathways, there is a structural threat to the viability of national space programmes and the sustainability of commercial ecosystems This session interrogates brain drain beyond the usual narrative. What structural gaps in venture financing, procurement policy, research funding, regulatory clarity, and compensation benchmarks drive outward migration in space and adjacent deep-tech sectors? It will quantify the economic cost of lost intellectual capital and share insights on whether retention models are viable within African fiscal and market realities. Panellists will examine what is working and what is not. Which African countries have successfully retained deep-tech talent, the role the private sector plays in creating employment pathways that keep engineers in-country, and how governments can design procurement and innovation funding that prioritises domestic talent without sacrificing technical quality. |
speakers
