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2024 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

12. Social Incubators and Accelerators for Migrant Entrepreneurs: Exploratory Insights From Italy

Authors : Giulia Martinelli, Greta Serpente, Daniela Bolzani

Published in: Social Entrepreneurship and Migrants' Inclusion

Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland

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Abstract

While the literature about entrepreneurial ecosystems has burgeoned, scholars have started to critically examine their inclusiveness in terms of equitable access to resources, networks, and related power for diverse entrepreneurs. In this regard, migrant entrepreneurs represent a category that, far from being homogeneous, deserves attention due to the pervasive racialized patterns in entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial support organizations are important pillars that can foster equal and inclusive entrepreneurship practices. This chapter provides evidence about how two neglected types of support organizations, namely social incubators and accelerators, support migrant entrepreneurs. The analysis of explorative data, collected through semi-structured interviews with specialists from one social incubator and one social accelerator in Italy, highlights the pivotal role of governance and organizational structures, targeting and selection processes, and services provided. The chapter provides several insights that contribute to the literature on entrepreneurial support organizations, along with practical recommendations.

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previous chapter Social and Solidarity Economy in Greece: European, National and Local Perspectives

next chapter Economic Integration of Refugees: A Cross-country Comparison of Slovenia, Spain and Austria

The chapter hinges on the data collected by the University of Bologna during the development of MIG.EN.CUBE, a project funded by the EU Erasmus+ program, focused on enhancing the knowledge and competencies of diverse incubation professionals who deal with current or aspiring migrant entrepreneurs. The University of Bologna led the project, whicht involved university and incubation partners from France, Italy, and the Netherlands and lasted from November 2020 to April 2023. In this chapter, we only focus on some findings about the Italian context. However, a more comprehensive understanding of the types of incubation initiatives specifically targeting migrant entrepreneurs can be found in the two reports released by the project (van Rijs et al., 2021; Martinelli & Bolzani, 2021).

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Title: Social Incubators and Accelerators for Migrant Entrepreneurs: Exploratory Insights From Italy
Authors: Giulia Martinelli
Greta Serpente
Daniela Bolzani
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland
Book: Social Entrepreneurship and Migrants' Inclusion
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-55790-3

Electronic ISBN: 978-3-031-55791-0

Copyright Year: 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-55791-0_12