June 15, 2007
Asian entrepreneurs need support
By Cory Hopkins
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 panel discussion among top academic leaders and state officials this morning 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.
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 the biotechnology sector, immigrant brainpower is drawn to the state by the close proximity of other immigrant shared knowledge, according to Smith-Doerr. 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 the state must do more to make immigrant business leaders aware of programs designed to educate and help them grow their businesses.
"It's not enough to simply have these programs available for business owners," Tullberg said. "We have to let them know they're there, help increase their awareness, particularly among immigrant business owners who often aren't well connected with the traditional business support systems."
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 panel discussion among top academic leaders and state officials this morning 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.
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 the biotechnology sector, immigrant brainpower is drawn to the state by the close proximity of other immigrant shared knowledge, according to Smith-Doerr. 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 the state must do more to make immigrant business leaders aware of programs designed to educate and help them grow their businesses.
"It's not enough to simply have these programs available for business owners," Tullberg said. "We have to let them know they're there, help increase their awareness, particularly among immigrant business owners who often aren't well connected with the traditional business support systems."
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments