1. Migration – Innovation – Development
egKonnect
Addis Abeba
29/30-11-2012
Stephanie Deubler
GIZ – CIM Project Migration and Development
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2. What is innovation?
A theoretical approach from development perspective
… not only world first, but also new on the local market or within a
company. New solutions are also considered as innovations, when they
are newly introduced into a market or company (a new context!).
Important factors to foster innovation:
• exchange, interaction
• access to global trade flows, foreign direct investment,
integration into international value chains
 AND mobility of people, especially highly skilled
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3. What is innovation?
A theoretical approach from development perspective
Reinforcement
• Improving research capacities; university education, TVET
• Strengthening of innovative capacity of the private sector
Bridging
• Cooperation between scientific research and private sector and education
system
• Cooperation among companies
Framework
• Innovation policies and strategies
• Incentive systems for innovation (e.g. taxes)
• Financing instruments (e.g. for start-ups, research)
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4. Where is the link?
How migrants contribute to the promotion of innovation…
diaspora / temporary returnees returnees
Indirect: transfer of institutional and
Investment and trade channels policy-knowhow
• remittances • knowledge about business models
• Joint ventures • professional networks abroad
•„nostalgic products“ • research cooperation, guest
lectures
Direct: knowledge and technology
Networks transfer
• business networks • start ups
• research networks • mentoring (business angels)
• internationalisation of value chains
• soft skills
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5. Where is the link?
What are influencing factors?
Country of Origin Country of Destination
Regulation of possibility to migrate Level of discrimination and acces to labour
 Reduction of human capital as no incentive to market and education system
education and qualification
Economic and politic framework conditions: Possibility and willingness to integrate
favorable investment climate
Security (of educated elites): Influence on length of Quality of research institutions
return
Adaptability / Readiness to learn of institution and Size of diaspora and networks
economic actors: problems – control by government,
lacking transparency, etc.
Availability of ICT: facilitates staying in touch with Links to the country of origin
country of origin
Working conditions: availability of material, Immigration policy
machines etc.
Specific programmes for the promotion of
investment and return
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6. Some examples
Honduras, Armenia, Serbia, Program of Returning Experts
Honduras Global ArmEN
network of potential
Network of highly skilled
diaspora investors and
diaspora
relevant stakeholders in
www.hondurasglobal.org
Armenia
Serbia Program of Returning
mapping of highly skilled Experts (Migration and
Diaspora; Diaspora Program)
study on young Support of highly skilled
returnees returnees
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7. Questions? Comments? Discussion!
Thank you very much!
Stephanie Deubler
stephanie.deubler@giz.de
www.giz.de/migration
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