Panama City, Panama. The gleaming metropolis reflects a rapid economic growth with a marginal national investment in research and development. Carlos A. Donado Morcillo June 23, 2016 Is Panama on the verge of a scientific brain drain? Javier E. Sanchez-Galan, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá and Carlos A. Donado Morcillo, Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua In the midst of a rapidly growing economy, research budget shortcomings threaten a young scientific community that struggles to stay afloat.