A book mapping the innovation output of migration in Europe

Europe is facing considerable challenges in regard to immigration. There is no clear-cut answer as to how to achieve good integration, but more jobs must necessarily be part of the solution. It is through work that a person becomes integrated into society, and it is work that provides hope of a future.

In the book Startup Migrants our main thesis is that entrepreneurship and more start-up businesses comprise the best and fastest way to create new jobs both in Europe and globally. The reason being that the bar to getting a job at a start-up is often more flexible than at an established company. If Europe is able to create a culture in which more migrants start expanding companies – which is seen in the US – the European continent could have a constant supply of labour. This would be able to engender growth and act as a beacon for a more inclusive and diverse society.

The challenge

Diversity is a resource for creating a prosperous and inclusive society. However there is little knowledge transfer between NGOs, the public sector, the tech sphere and the startup ecosystem in Europe and the Middle East.

Without open lines of communication, enterprising migrants are not able to learn collaboratively or from the past experiences of entrepreneurs who have come before them. As a result, Europe and Middle East are missing out on new business’ and partnerships across sectors and borders.

The process

So far we have interviewed more than 100 policy makers, entrepreneurs, NGOs and migrants in Europe and the Middle East about the challenges they face, and intend to apply our analytical skills and extensive experience in the startup, policy and NGO sectors to analyse the results.