Launch of MACIMIDE, a new interdisciplinary research centre
MsM’s Dean, Professor Wim Naudé discussed how much we actually know about migrant entrepreneurs at the Kick-Off Conference of the Maastricht Centre for Citizenship, Migration and Development (MACIMIDE).
Held at the UM’s Law Faculty on 4 April 2014 the conference marked the official kick-off of MACIMIDE. This new interdisciplinary research center, founded by Maastricht University (UM) and in which MsM participates, unites existing research lines with the aim of raising awareness for transnational migration and citizenship in Europe and abroad.
The kick-off conference brought together national and international speakers from within and outside UM, who presented research projects and findings related to the four research themes of MACIMIDE – Migration & Development, Transnational Families, Cross-border Mobility & Citizenship, and Immigrant Integration.
In his address Professor Naudé gave a review on the current status of what we know about migrants as entrepreneurs. Is it true that migrants are more entrepreneurial than natives? Do migrants face different obstacles than their native counterparts, such as discrimination? Can migrant remittances fund start-ups in the countries of origin? Can return emigration bring valuable entrepreneurial skills to poor home countries? Professor Naudé discussed whether these questions are facts or myths based on recent evidence.
The MACIMIDE Kick-Off Conference was organized in cooperation with the Dutch Association for Migration Research (DAMR), which aims at increasing the scientific standing of migration research.
Migration continues to shape contemporary events and debates, and has in recent years been a prominent topic in the media, policy making and the academic literature. In May 2013, MsM joined hands with the United Nations University – Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT), to organize an International Workshop on Migrants: Transnational Entrepreneurs or Entrepreneurial Refugees?.
In January 2014 MsM and UNU-MERIT hosted the conference IS Academy: Migration and Development ‘A World in Motion’. This was the final conference of the IS Academy: Migration and Development project, a five-year research study (2009 - 2014) funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Video registrations of both events can be found on the UNU-MERIT YouTube channel.
MsM is also closely co-operating with the Law Faculty at UM, and later this year will jointly organize MSM’s 4th Annual Research h Conference on the theme Global Business, Emerging Markets and Human Rights: Old Concerns or Fresh Hopes? The conference takes place on 5-6 September 2014 in Maastricht, the Netherlands. The Call for Papers is now open.
