About NBEF

The Nordic Baltic Expats Forum (NBEF) is the community of researchers, students and professionals who have roots or experiences in the Nordic-Baltic Region (the Top of Europe, i.e. Denmark, Estonia, Finland, North Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, North Western Russia, and Sweden). The launch of NBEF has been funded by universities, companies, institutions and public authorities in the Nordic-Baltic region.

NBEF targets:

  • Regional Expatriates, ie citizens of a Top of Europe country engaged in bioscience research, business or research policy, as students, staff members or professionals working or studying – or recently having worked or studied - abroad, either at another Top of Europe country or elsewhere.
  • Foreign Expatriates residing on Top of Europe engaged in bioscience research, business or research policy.
  • Returned Foreign Expatriates, ie citizens of countries outside Top of Europe engaged in bioscience research, business or research policy who have worked or studied on Top of Europe and then returned to their country of origin1

1 For citizens of China it includes persons who are engaged in engineering and IT research, business or research policy.as students, staff members or professionals

The NBEF Mission is:

  • To inform ExPats of job, funding, career, and partnering opportunities in R&D on Top of Europe
  • To engage ExPats in leveraging opportunities for regional institutions, universities, and companies abroad
  • To help Expats to share experiences, better practices, and to give professional and social support before, during, or after their stay abroad


Top of Europe researchers working and studying abroad represent an untapped source of knowledge and experience, a resource that our region could use much more effectively. Through NBEF, community members are updated on regional and home country research policies, and informed about career opportunities as well as opportunities for collaboration. NBEF allows expatriates to become well-connected with their roots at Top of Europe, ensuring that they are recognized as an important resource, whether they remain abroad or choose to return.

NBEF Community Benefits:

  • NBEF fosters connectivity, networking, and relationships among bioscience professionals, students, and organisations both at home and abroad
  • NBEF contributes to brain gain for Top of Europe countries and strengthens their position in the global competition for talent
  • NBEF facilitates research and development collaboration between Top of Europe scientists and the rest of the world
  • NBEF enables global outreach for Top of Europe industry and academia
  • NBEF assists Top of Europe researchers in profiling their expertise through professional benefits, such as speaking engagements, consultancy, external thesis examinations, R&D collaborations, sabbatical leave destinations, and so on
  • NBEF delivers access to contacts with foreign country experience for new projects and business opportunities
  • NBEF delivers information about research positions and job opportunities back in Top of Europe
  • NBEF serves as an information portal for coming and returning researchers, providing practical advice as well as relevant contact organisations, government institutions, and people
  • NBEF brands Top of Europe as an attractive place to live, work, and invest