Call for Proposals

Global Competition for Talent: How Indian Students and Professionals Choose Their Destination Countries and Where Germany Stands

Background and Rationale

Countries such as Germany have traditionally approached global migration policy from the perspective of controlling inflows, deciding who to admit and in what numbers. In recent years, however, Germany has increasingly shifted toward attracting skilled migrants, particularly in high-demand sectors such as IT, technology, research, and innovation.

In an increasingly competitive global landscape, this perspective must evolve further. Rather than focusing solely on selection mechanisms, it is equally important to understand how top talent chooses destination countries. Countries are no longer merely gatekeepers; they are     active competitors in a global marketplace for talent.

India, with its large pool of highly skilled students and professionals, particularly in IT,          technology, R&D, and academia (including PhD candidates), represents one of the most          significant sources of global talent. These individuals actively evaluate and compare             destination countries such as Germany, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Understanding their decision-making processes is essential for designing effective migration, education, and labor market policies, and for strengthening Germany’s position in the global competition for talent.

Objective of the Study

The proposed study aims to analyze how top Indian talent selects destination countries and to assess Germany’s positioning within this global competition.

Specifically, the study will:
1. Map the key aspects of the decision-making process of Indian students and professionals (particularly in IT, technology, R&D, and PhD pathways).
2. Identify and define the main decision factors influencing country selection.
3. Assess the relative importance of these factors in shaping individual choices.
4. Compare the offerings of major destination countries across these factors.
5. Evaluate Germany’s strengths and gaps in attracting top talent.
6. Develop policy-relevant recommendations to enhance Germany’s competitiveness.

Dissemination and Impact

The findings of the study will be:
• Shared and discussed with Indian PhD students and young professionals to support more informed decision-making regarding international education and career pathways.
• Presented in Germany to raise awareness among policymakers, industry stakeholders, and academic institutions about the dynamics of global talent competition, existing challenges, and potential policy responses.

Through this initiative, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) aims to contribute to informed dialogue and evidence-based policymaking, while supporting Germany’s efforts to attract and retain high-quality international talent.

Call for Proposals

FNF invites proposals from interested think tanks and research organisations to undertake this study.
Submission deadline: 25 April 2026
Submission email: nupur.hasija@freiheit.org
For further information or clarification, please feel free to reach out.