How can Sweden attract talent? A fireside chat with professor Gi-Wook Shin, Stanford

At a time when global competition is no longer just about capital and natural resources, but increasingly about human talent, we welcome professor Gi-Wook Shin från Stanford University for an exclusive discussion of his new book, The Four Talent Giants.

Sweden faces great challenges. Our future growth depends on the ability to drive innovation in green technology, life science and AI. Yet at the same time we grapple with skills shortages, demographic change, and an intense debate on labour immigration. How can a country like Sweden navigate this complex environment?

In this book, Professor Shin, one of the world’s foremost sociologists of global talent flows, introduces his pioneering “Talent Portfolio Theory”. By analysing four “talent giants” – Japan, Australia, China, and India – he shows that national strategies lead to innovation and economic development. Shin divides these strategies into four categories: 

• Brain train: Development of indigenous talent.
• Brain gain: Attraction of international expertise.
• Brain circulation: Getting returning citizens to contribute new knowledge.
• Brain linkage: Harnessing the power of the diaspora abroad.

During the discussion we explore how Sweden may be inspired by Gi-Wook Shin’s theories. 

Dr HC Hagman, Deputy Director-General and Senior Adviser for Strategic Analysis, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, will participate in the discussion and contribute his reflections on attracting talent to Sweden.

This fireside chat, which is led by Dr Andreas Göthenberg, STINT’s Executive Director, is relevant for decision-makers, higher education and business leaders, as well as anyone interested in how Sweden can retain its position as a leading knowledge nation in a changing world. 

Welcome!