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Immigrant Networking and Collaboration: Survey Evidence from CIC

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  • Sari Pekkala Kerr
  • William R. Kerr

Abstract

Networking and the giving and receiving of advice outside of one's own firm are important features of entrepreneurship and innovation. We study how immigrants and natives utilize the potential networking opportunities provided by CIC, formerly known as the Cambridge Innovation Center. CIC is widely considered the center of the Boston entrepreneurial ecosystem. We surveyed 1,334 people working at CIC in three locations spread across the Boston area and CIC's first expansion facility in St. Louis, MO. Survey responses show that immigrants value networking capabilities in CIC more than natives, and the networks developed by immigrants at CIC tend to be larger. Immigrants report substantially greater rates of giving and receiving advice than natives for six surveyed factors: business operations, venture financing, technology, suppliers, people to recruit, and customers. The structure and composition of CIC floors has only a modest influence on these immigrant versus native differences.

Suggested Citation

  • Sari Pekkala Kerr & William R. Kerr, 2019. "Immigrant Networking and Collaboration: Survey Evidence from CIC," NBER Working Papers 25509, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:25509
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    Cited by:

    1. Paige Clayton, 2024. "Different outcomes for different founders? Local organizational sponsorship and entrepreneurial finance," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(1), pages 23-62, January.
    2. Lisa Jones Christensen & Arielle Badger Newman & Heidi Herrick & Paul Godfrey, 2020. "Separate but not equal: Toward a nomological net for migrants and migrant entrepreneurship," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 3(1), pages 1-22, March.
    3. Scandura, Alessandra & Bolzani, Daniela, 2020. "The Role of Collaboration Networks for Innovation in Immigrant-Owned New Technology-Based Firms," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis LEI & BRICK - Laboratory of Economics of Innovation "Franco Momigliano", Bureau of Research in Innovation, Complexity and Knowledge, Collegio 202004, University of Turin.
    4. Scandura, Alessandra & Bolzani, Daniela, 2020. "The Role of Collaboration Networks for Innovation in Immigrant-Owned New Technology-Based Firms," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis. Working Papers 202021, University of Turin.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D85 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Network Formation
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General

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