We are proud to announce that the project "Refugee Entrepreneurship in the EU: Sparking Grass-roots Innovation, Civic Empowerment, and Transnational Connectivity" (RE-EMERGE), co-led by Political Science Department Professor Inna Melnykovska, has been selected by CIVICA as one of eight projects addressing critical contemporary issues through rigorous academic inquiry.
Project Overview
The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine led to over 4.2 million non-EU citizens seeking temporary protection in the EU by March 2024. RE-EMERGE explores how refugee entrepreneurship can integrate refugees into host countries, maintain ties to their home countries, and empower economic and civic agency. The project investigates the conditions under which refugee entrepreneurship fosters grassroots economic innovation, civic empowerment, and transnational connectivity.
Key Research Areas
- Micro-Level Factors: Personal motivations and experiences of refugee entrepreneurs.
- Meso-Level Influences: Impact of local networks and NGOs.
- Macro-Level Contexts: Politico-economic environments of host countries.
Collaborative Efforts
In partnership with SGH Warsaw School of Economics and Stockholm School of Economics, RE-EMERGE will conduct data collection, explorative research, and proof-of-concept analyses. The project benefits from CIVICA’s collaborative environment and aims to enhance publication records, build external partnerships, and prepare for EU funding under the "CIVICA for Ukraine" initiative.
Project Timeline
RE-EMERGE officially starts on June 30, 2024, and will run until May 2026. We look forward to the insights and innovations this project will bring to the field of refugee entrepreneurship.