Diaspora as a underutilized opportunity

Diaspora as a underutilized opportunity
Towards Inclusive Use of Intellectual Capital: Innovation communities integrating
foreign human capital to the Finnish innovation activities [INCO]
4.12.2014 TEKES, Helsinki
Mika Raunio, Mika Kautonen, Li Wang, Nadja Nordling
Research Center for Knowledge, Science, Technology and Innovation Studies (TaSTI), University of Tampere
Nina Mustikkamäki, Ilari Karppi, Jari Kolehmainen
Management School, University of Tampere
Ju Liu,
Centre for Innovation, Research and Competence in the Learning Economy (CIRCLE), Lund University, Sweden
Jorge Niosi,
School of Management, University of Quebec, Montreal, Canada
Mika Nieminen
VTT
The context of the study
• Finland has not been successful in deployment of global human
capital with the national innovation system because socio-cultural
environment of the innovation system does not support its use but is
more exclusive than inclusive.
• As an intangible asset, the value of human capital (professional
knowledge) depends very much on its match with the socio-cultural
environment and the links that knowledge holders are able to create
with relevant communities.
• Various types of communities within the innovation system should
be harnessed to provide more inclusive practices for foreign human
capital
• Access to innovation activities m ay be fostered by
community-building practices that provide relevant social networks
and cultural knowledge for newcomers.
The categories
of communities
DATA: 45 INTERVIEWS (Finland) + 29 (Sweden & Canada) AND
220 ANSWERS TO QUESTIONNAIRE (Finland, Community members)
Innovation communities are fully or partly
devoted to provide innovations and link
newcomers to actual innovation processes
and/or platforms.
• Policy based open innovation platforms (e.g.
New Factory, Business Kitchen, Design Factory)
• Start-ups and entrepreneur-based innovation
platforms (e.g. AaltoES, Starttaamo)
Supportive professional and business
communities link new members to a wider
business environment and other networks.
• Professional and entrepreneurial associations
(e.g. OuluES, IGDA, OIN)
• Professional networking events and meet-ups
(e.g. Mobile Monday)
Enabling social and cultural communities
links newcomers to various social networks
and activities in the region, with potential
links to innovation and business
environments of the region.
• International social communities (e.g. Irish
ELKsFC, Womens’ club)
• Social media-based international communities
(e.g. IESAF, Helsinki-expat meetup)
Conclusions and messages for the reasearch and policy:
Towards inclusive innovation economy?
• Communities are not created for the inclusion of foreign human capital, but
• to support innovative and professional activities and interaction (with international flavour) or
• to support the social interaction of international groups (with many highly skilled members).
• An active ecosystem is emerging in Finland with various community- building practices
that links global human capital with the Finnish innovation environment and activities.
• Fairly visible social networks organised by active new comers themselves, however,
strongly business oriented and visible (i.e. easy to find) immigrant communities or
associations were not found (“diasporas”).
• International Finns (return migrants/ex-pats) and foreigners with Finnish education
benefit the most from the communities in terms of career advancement and business,
foreigners without Finnish education benefit the most from social communities.
• These communities offer opportunities especially for those who show initiative.
Frequently those who were more active within the community (as establishers,
organizers, active participants) benefitted more than less active members (occasional
participants, followers).
• There is need to better understand the convergence of innovation economy and
immigration as well as need to renew the respective policy fields, practices and their
mutual relations.