By Riad Beladi,
If Elon Musk had chosen Europe over North America, it is unlikely the world would know his name today. The continent remains entangled in rigid bureaucracies and subtle yet persistent segregation, slowing the embrace of talented visionaries—especially those coming from outside its borders. Europe continues to fall behind in innovation and technology, not due to a lack of brilliant minds, but because it is unwilling to recognise and empower them unless they fit a certain mould.
Consider the case of African and Algerian doctors in France. Despite their advanced qualifications and extensive training—often exceeding that of their European counterparts—many face endless obstacles in receiving equal opportunities or recognition. Merely having a non-European or non-French name can be enough for their credentials to be dismissed before a second glance. These professionals, trained in some of the most rigorous medical systems in the world, are often relegated to subordinate roles or entirely excluded from their field.
Germany exhibits similar challenges. The country attracts engineers from North Africa and the Middle East, yet their names rarely make headlines or receive public accolades. Their innovations are quietly absorbed into the system, their contributions erased, and their potential capped by an unspoken rule: unless you have a German-sounding name, you are unlikely to lead.
What is even more disheartening is that while Europe markets itself as a hub of progress and diversity, it systematically denies visibility and opportunity to the very minds on which it depends to maintain its aging systems. Talented doctors, professors, engineers, and tech entrepreneurs from Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, and beyond are used but not celebrated; seen but not embraced.
The United Kingdom, to its credit, fares marginally better. British institutions have demonstrated a greater willingness to embrace global talent in recent years. However, systemic inequality still exists—albeit more subtly—and many only find genuine opportunities once they cross the Atlantic.
It is no wonder that these brilliant minds are turning away from Europe and heading to the United States—a land where one’s name, accent, or background matters far less than one’s ideas. In the U.S., if you are capable, you are given the tools to prove it. Although the playing field is not perfect, it is far more level. That is why America has become the undisputed home of innovation.
Imagine if Elon Musk, born in South Africa to a Canadian mother and raised far from Silicon Valley, had moved to Europe instead of the United States. Would he have been allowed to lead, to innovate, or to shake up entire industries? Or would he have been bogged down by red tape, forced to start at the bottom and denied investment simply because his surname was not “Dupont” or “Schneider”?
Europe has the talent, ambition, and diversity of thought. However, it lacks the courage to abandon its rigid old structures and embrace true meritocracy. Until this changes, the continent will continue to lag behind, exporting its smartest individuals to nations that value them not for their passports but for their potential.
This is not merely an observation—it is a warning. If Europe wishes to remain relevant in the global race for technological advancement, it must stop treating immigrant brilliance as a threat or a resource, and begin to recognise it as a core element of its future.
It is time to dismantle the silent segregation that stifles the continent’s growth. Otherwise, the next Elon Musk will continue to build his empire elsewhere.
