June 25, 2007
Panel: Immigrant entrepreneurs need support
By Cory Hopkins
Asian-owned business growth outpaces other groups
It's not easy being an immigrant. It's not easy starting a business. But the challenges inherent in the former seem to have helped immigrant entrepreneurs in Massachusetts with the latter, according to recent studies commissioned by the Malden-based Immigrant Learning Center.
Laurel Smith-Doerr, an assistant professor in the department of sociology at Boston University, said the immigrant experience lends itself to entrepreneurship.
"Being an immigrant means being flexible," Smith-Doerr said. "Flexibility is one of the keys to entrepreneurial success."
Smith-Doerr was part of a recent panel discussion among top academic leaders and state officials regarding the state of immigrant entrepreneurship in Massachusetts at Framingham State College.
The event was sponsored by the Immigrant Learning Center and was highlighted by a discussion of two recent reports commissioned by the agency that examined the state of Asian-owned businesses in Massachusetts and the impact of immigrant entrepreneurs in the Massachusetts biotechnology sector.
Asian innovation
The reports concluded that the growth of Asian-owned businesses in the state has outpaced other business growth by a factor of nine, while adding more than 37,000 employees.
In all, more than 25 percent of all biotechnology companies in New England have at least one foreign-born founder.
Kathy Tullberg of the Massachusetts Community and Banking Council said, "It's not enough to simply have these programs available for business owners. We have to let them know they're there, help increase their awareness, particularly among immigrant business owners."
It's not easy being an immigrant. It's not easy starting a business. But the challenges inherent in the former seem to have helped immigrant entrepreneurs in Massachusetts with the latter, according to recent studies commissioned by the Malden-based Immigrant Learning Center.
Laurel Smith-Doerr, an assistant professor in the department of sociology at Boston University, said the immigrant experience lends itself to entrepreneurship.
"Being an immigrant means being flexible," Smith-Doerr said. "Flexibility is one of the keys to entrepreneurial success."
Smith-Doerr was part of a recent panel discussion among top academic leaders and state officials regarding the state of immigrant entrepreneurship in Massachusetts at Framingham State College.
The event was sponsored by the Immigrant Learning Center and was highlighted by a discussion of two recent reports commissioned by the agency that examined the state of Asian-owned businesses in Massachusetts and the impact of immigrant entrepreneurs in the Massachusetts biotechnology sector.
Asian innovation
The reports concluded that the growth of Asian-owned businesses in the state has outpaced other business growth by a factor of nine, while adding more than 37,000 employees.
In all, more than 25 percent of all biotechnology companies in New England have at least one foreign-born founder.
Kathy Tullberg of the Massachusetts Community and Banking Council said, "It's not enough to simply have these programs available for business owners. We have to let them know they're there, help increase their awareness, particularly among immigrant business owners."
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