Entrepreneurship as a Pathway to Economic Inclusion
Despite the danger of failure, researchers have noted that newcomers choose entrepreneurship more frequently than working-age Canadians and that they are pulled as well as pushed to pursue entrepreneurial ventures.
Objective
While research has suggested immigrant entrepreneurs often face barriers in terms of navigating the Canadian innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, there are increasing numbers of programs ostensibly designed to support them.
By better understanding the diversity among immigrant entrepreneurs and their experiences as well as recognizing entrepreneurship as a viable pathway to inclusion, policymakers can help to strengthen an already dynamic ecosystem capable of further contributing to Canada鈥檚 economic recovery.
Research question(s)
- What are the characteristics of immigrant entrepreneurs in Canada?
- Can we develop a framework to distinguish different motivations (push/pull) related to different sectors and characteristics?
- What barriers do immigrant entrepreneurs face in establishing businesses?
- What entrepreneurship support programs are currently available for immigrants and newcomers in Canada, what are their features and impacts?
- What are the implications for policy and practice in developing an inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem for entrepreneurs?
Methodology
This research will adopt a mixed-methods approach to design and deliver entrepreneurship training which is a pathway to self-employment among newcomers. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods will be used.
Status
The project is ongoing, with several key milestones having been achived. More publications, program development, report writing, and knowledge mobilization activities are in progress.
Outcomes
Publications:
Cukier, W., Donaldson, L., Augustin, T. J., & Chavoushi, Z. H. (2025). Advancing inclusive innovation in Canada: the impact of the IIE-Net project. Equality Diversity and Inclusion An International Journal. doi:10.1108/edi-11-2023-0383
Elmi, M., Cukier, W., Chavoushi, Z. H., & Mo, G. Y. (Eds.). (2024). Immigrant entrepreneurship (2024th ed.). doi:10.1007/978-3-031-69642-8
Past events and conferences:
- 鈥淏orders & Belonging: In Conversation podcast鈥�, interview participation by Wendy Cukier, Toronto, Canada, May 13, 2025
- 鈥淚ndustry perspectives: Key debates around new technologies鈥�, plenary session by Wendy Cukier, AI, Remote Work, and Productivity: An International Conference, St. John鈥檚, Canada, May 9, 2025
- 鈥淎I, remote work, and productivity: An international conference鈥�, co organized by Tony Fang and Wendy Cukier, St. John鈥檚, Canada, May 8鈥�9, 2025
- 鈥淐atalyst Canada: Reimagining business immigration鈥�, roundtable participation by Wendy Cukier, Catalyst Conference, May 1, 2025
- 鈥淪potlight on diversity: Immigrant entrepreneurship鈥�, presented by Wendy Cukier, Inclusive Entrepreneurship Webinar Series, March 21鈥揂pril 4, 2025
- 鈥淲omen鈥檚 leadership and empowerment 鈥� Breaking barriers, building legacies鈥�, interview participation by Wendy Cukier, Skills for Change Spotlight Series, March 18, 2025
- 鈥淚mmigrant entrepreneurs鈥�, presented by Wendy Cukier, 27th Metropolis Conference, Toronto, Canada, March 15, 2025
- 鈥淪tate of Women鈥檚 Entrepreneurship (SOWE) report鈥�, presented by Wendy Cukier and the Diversity Institute research team, Universit茅 de l鈥橭ntario fran莽ais (UOF), Toronto, Canada, February 24, 2025
- 鈥淔acilitating newcomers' entrepreneurship in Canada: The case of Newcomers Entrepreneurship Hub鈥�, presented by Wendy Cukier, Bridging Divides Pre-Conference Meeting and 27th Canadian Ethnic Studies Association (CESA) Conference, Edmonton, Canada, November 14鈥�16, 2024
- 鈥淩eaching women entrepreneurs: A virtual conversation with Women鈥檚 Business Centers counselors in the United States, Canada, and Mexico鈥�, panel participation by Wendy Cukier, Best Practices Webinar, September 24, 2024
- 鈥淩egional Roundtable Insights in Action Tour in Ontario: Driving inclusive innovation, skills, and employment鈥�, presented by Wendy Cukier, September 17, 2024
- 鈥淥pportunities in supplier diversity programs鈥�, presented by Wendy Cukier, Diversity Expo: 2SLGBTQI+ Business Edition, August 16, 2024
- 鈥淚nclusive innovation in science and tech: Bridging the technology skills gap for women and other equity-deserving groups鈥�, presented by Wendy Cukier, CICE-2024 Conference, July 25, 2024
- 鈥淗ow to support equity, diversity, and inclusion through business and innovation programming鈥�, presented by Wendy Cukier, Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor), July 9, 2024
- 鈥淩efugee entrepreneurship and family business in Canada鈥�, presented by Aziz Rahman, 13th International Research Meeting in Business and Management (IRMBAM), Nice, France, July 4, 2024
- 鈥淓xperts in what? A nested case analysis of DEI ideology, power dynamics, and change in entrepreneurial ecosystems鈥�, presented by Wendy Cukier, EGOS 2024, July 4鈥�6, 2024
- 鈥淲omen entrepreneurs and sustainability initiatives: Evidence from Canada鈥�, presented by Wendy Cukier, EGOS 2024, July 4鈥�6, 2024
- 鈥淩efugee entrepreneurship in Canada鈥�, presented by Aziz Rahman, IMISCOE Conference (online), July 3, 2024
- 鈥淢igrants鈥� economic integration and entrepreneurship鈥�, session chaired and presentation on 鈥淩efugee entrepreneurship in Canada鈥� by Aziz Rahman, IMISCOE Conference (online), July 2鈥�3, 2024
- 鈥淭oo big to fail vs. too small to see: Rectifying the bias against spillover multiplier effects of SMEs and women entrepreneurship鈥�, presented by Wendy Cukier, Administrative Sciences Association of Canada (ASAC) 2024, Longueuil, Canada, June 2, 2024
- 鈥淟everaging diverse procurement鈥�, presented by Wendy Cukier, Inclusive Entrepreneurship Webinar Series, March 21鈥揂pril 4, 2024
- 鈥淪potlight on diversity: Black entrepreneurship鈥�, presented by Mohamed Elmi, Inclusive Entrepreneurship Webinar Series, March 21鈥揂pril 4, 2024
- 鈥淪potlight on diversity: Immigrant entrepreneurship鈥�, presented by Wendy Cukier, Inclusive Entrepreneurship Webinar Series, March 21, 2024
- 鈥淲here are we now? An update on economic challenges and progress in Canada 鈥� Education, employment, entrepreneurship, and leadership鈥�, presented by Wendy Cukier and Mohamed Elmi, International Decade for People of African Descent 2015鈥�2024: Advancing Social and Economic Inclusion in Canada, February 9, 2024
Keywords
Canadian innovation and entrepreneurship; economic inclusion; entrepreneurship; immigrant entrepreneurs; migrant integration