The document also draws attention to successful international examples, such as India and Singapore, which have managed to transform talent drain into productive circulation of knowledge.
The training of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) specialists in Brazil has not kept pace with growing market demand—and the situation is worsened by the constant flight of qualified talent abroad. This is the warning of the new article. “Training in the ICT Sector and Brain Drain: Challenges and Perspectives for Technological Development”, from the series Observing, published by Softex Observatory, a research and strategic intelligence unit that supports the formulation of public policies for the sector. Based on data from reliable sources, the study analyzes the bottlenecks in talent training, retention, and migration and points to ways to address this challenge, highlighting the importance of more effective coordination between universities, the productive sector, and the government.
Brain Drain: A Silent Threat
"The brain drain in the ICT sector reflects the global appetite for highly qualified professionals, especially in such a strategic industry," explains Rayanny Nunes, Coordinator of Intelligence and Solutions Design at Softex. She emphasizes that developing countries produce talent that ends up working in developed nations, which represents a significant loss of human capital. "It's a multifaceted phenomenon, driven by structural inequalities and motivated by factors such as better working conditions, professional recognition, quality of life, and access to research and innovation opportunities."
Salary disparities, low R&D investment, lack of recognition, and poor infrastructure are among the main causes of talent loss, according to the survey. The consequences are profound: the loss of qualified professionals reduces innovation capacity, discourages strategic investments, and increases dependence on foreign technologies. The study also highlights the growing migration of specialists in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence—including a growing number of women—especially in regions like South America, while countries like Canada, Germany, and Japan are recording positive results in attracting talent.
5 ways to reverse the scenario
For Brazil, the challenges are even greater. The country appears at the bottom of international digital competitiveness rankings, with poor performance in digital skills and little attractiveness to foreign professionals. The study highlights the urgent need for public policies that strengthen specialized training, promote the appreciation of professionals, and create structural conditions for them to remain and thrive in the country. Retention is identified as a strategic challenge, which depends on five pillars: quality education, professional development, competitive compensation, quality of life, and effective public policies.
While compensation is a central factor, the study highlights that other aspects such as job security, benefits, flexibility, and recognition are equally crucial. Well-structured public policies can transform dropout into productive knowledge circulation, as demonstrated by the examples of countries like India and Singapore. In Brazil, instruments such as the Lei do Bem (Good Law) and the Lei de Informática (Computer Law) are important, but there is still room to expand the sector's digitalization and competitiveness.
"The survey makes it clear that more than just stemming the dropout rate, Brazil needs to become a country where talent wants to stay, grow, and innovate, positioning itself as a leading player in the global digital economy," concludes Rayanny Nunes.
In this scenario, governments, companies, and educational institutions must act in a coordinated manner, investing in innovation, modern curricula, attractive career paths, and work environments that are aligned with technological trends.
To download the full article for free, visit https://softex.br/observatorio-softex/
About Softex – Softex has been designing and managing internationally impactful programs for over 20 years and coordinates the Softex System, comprised of 21 regional agents spread across 13 Brazilian states and the Federal District. The organization has 70 accredited ICTs and 30 partner accelerators, benefiting approximately 6,000 startups and over 6,000 companies, impacting over 5 million people. Softex works collaboratively with the private sector and federal, state, and municipal governments, academic centers, and development institutions. Over more than two decades of activity, it has established itself as the leading Brazilian institution capable of connecting stakeholders from the three spheres—government, academia, and the private sector—to drive Brazil's development through innovation and digital transformation. To evolve over all these years, Softex has constantly reinvented itself, an effort that has translated into a series of achievements involving support, development, promotion, and development initiatives. Its execution portfolio includes, among others, the programs StartUp Brasil, Inova Maranhão, TechD, Brasil Mais TI, Conexão Startup Brasil, Brasil IT+ and MPS.BR.
For more information, visit www.softex.br
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