Belongingness: The Role of Dis-/Connectedness in Migrant and Refugee Entrepreneurial

Journeys Across Local and Transnational Ecosystems

Connectedness and a sense of belonging are vital for migrant and refugee entrepreneurs to integrate

and access resources, networks, and opportunities within local entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs). This

session will explore how different levels of connectedness, as a precondition for embeddedness, shape

migrants' and refugees' entrepreneurial journeys. We will focus on the structural and relational

dimensions of belonging, drawing on more than 100 interviews across multiple countries. The session

will highlight how interactions with local and transnational actors and institutions can either facilitate or

hinder belonging while addressing challenges such as marginalization and exclusion from essential

networks.