Business and People on the Move conference

21–22 of October 2024, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland 

Organised by the Refugee Entrepreneurship Research Group at Åbo Akademi University in cooperation with prof. Maria Elo, University of Southern Denmark, Department of Business and Management

Registration (only online places left): REGISTER HERE for online participation

You can find the program for the event here

We invite academics, researchers, doctoral students, to join us for this enlightening event. Through engaging academic presentations, panel discussions, and keynote addresses, we will share insights, propose research directions, and address gaps in our understanding of the topic. In addition to the structured sessions, ample networking breaks, luncheons, and dinner will provide opportunities to connect, collaborate, and forge lasting discussions and partnerships.

Keynote speakers: 

Leo-Paul Dana – Professor of Entrepreneurship at Dalhousie University, Canada

Ranked No1 Entrepreneurship scientist in Canada (2024) and France (2023). Amongst the most cited authors in journals as Journal of World Business, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice and Journal of Business Research. 

 Ana Alvarez – CEO & Co-Founder of Migrapreneur® and Migration Hub®

Multiple award winner entrepreneur and consultant with a strong background in social innovation and migration. In the past 8 years, executed more than 10 projects across the EU, and now recognized for transforming the narrative around migration in Germany. Speaker, lecturer and TV guest expert at global institutions and media. Mentor to incubators and accelerators including migrants, named as one of the EU Future Leaders and one of the 20 more influential people in EU Tech for the year 2023. Chair of multiple non-profits, and advisory board in different initiatives and conferences such as SXSW. Passionate about creating inclusive societies.

Alexandra David – Senior researcher at the Institute for Work and Technology, Westphalian University

Dr. Alexandra David is a senior researcher specialising in Migration, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at the Westphalian University, Institute for Work and Technology (IAT). Her research primarily focuses on diversity, migration, and integration, with a particular emphasis on minority groups such as migrants, refugees, and female entrepreneurs. Alexandra’s work explores the (dis)connectedness of these groups within local ecosystems, examining the opportunities and foremost the challenges they face in their entrepreneurial endeavours such as discrimination, segregation and alienation tendencies. 

Call for extended abstracts (1500 words)

Deadline: 16st of August 2024 Due to requests, the deadline has been extended till 1^st of September

Requirements: 1500 words, Times New Roman, 12pt, 1,5 lines interval, blinded (add names and affiliations on a separate title page)

Submission to: mivanova@abo.fi

The conference covers all aspects of migrant entrepreneurship, including topics such as refugee entrepreneurship, opportunity/necessity entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial intentions and agency, resilience, inclusion, social capital and mixed embeddedness. Relevant themes include, but are not limited to:

• The role of entrepreneurship in refugee and migrant economic integration and its impact on local economies

• Refugee entrepreneurship as a coping mechanism for economic survival and social integration in host countries

• Social entrepreneurship initiatives led by refugees and migrants

• Migration and diaspora effects on entrepreneurial ecosystems

• International entrepreneurial orientation, aspirations and international business strategies of migrants

• Migrant entrepreneurs’ cultural and linguistic capitals and skills and their effect on business

• Resilience and strategies for overcoming adversities and fostering migrant agency in global business

• Role of social networks and community support in fostering migrant and refugee entrepreneurship

• The role of NGOs, government programs, and international organizations in supporting refugee entrepreneurs

• Migrant entrepreneurs’ contribution to innovation and creativity in various industries and sectors

• Transnational entrepreneurship among migrants and refugees

• Migrant and refugee women entrepreneurs and strategies for empowerment

• Intersectionality and multiple marginalizations effect on migrant and refugee entrepreneurs

• Diversity programs for overcoming stereotyping of migrants as business actors

• Psychological support and mental health in refugee entrepreneurship

• Digital solutions for refugee and migrant entrepreneurs

During the conference, paper development workshops will be held focusing on two special issues – in the International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development (see call here: Call for Papers IJMED) and the Journal of Comparative International Management (see call here: Call for Papers JCIM). Please specify when submitting via email to mivanova@abo.fi if your abstract is intended for one of these two workshops. The number of places at the workshops is limited, so in case your paper is not accepted to a workshop, then it will be considered for the main conference.

For more information please contact Stefan Lång (slang@abo.fi) or Maria Ivanova-Gongne (mivanova@abo.fi)

In association with:

#refugees #migrants #entrepreneurship #bizmove2024