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 for the conference is now OPEN

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.

Call for extended abstracts (1500 words)

Deadline: 16st of August 2024

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 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