Following the arrival of large numbers of migrants and asylum seekers in Europe from 2015 onwards, many non-traditional actors—from tech start-ups to social enterprises—have pioneered innovative solutions to foster the social and economic inclusion of newcomers. In the context of this experimentation, business has played a fundamental role, with companies on both sides of the Atlantic leveraging their potential as employers, donors, and partners in innovative alliances. This two-day conference reflected on how innovative initiatives for refugee inclusion can grow beyond pockets of good practice and inspire large-scale, long-term change. The event brought together a diverse group of public officials, business leaders, service designers, social entrepreneurs, civil society organisations, and refugee initiatives from Europe, the United States, and Canada.
- Adam Shub, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Mission to the EU
Daniel J. Costello, Ambassador of Canada to the EU
Elizabeth Collett, Director, Migration Policy Institute Europe
Cristian Pirvulescu, President of the Permanent Study Group on Immigration and Integration, European Economic and Social Committee
- Opening speech by Yara Al Adib, Design Consultant and Entrepreneur, From Syria with Love, Belgium
- Panel session: “How the field has matured: A progress report, one year on”
- Chair: Tamim Nashed, Policy Officer on Refugee Inclusion, European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE)
Eric Young, The Social Projects Studio/Distinguished Visiting Professor of Social Innovation at Ryerson University, Canada
Luisa Seiler, Co-founder and Director, SINGA Deutschland, Germany
Mireia Nadal Chiva, Head of Community Development, ReDI School for Digital Integration, Germany