The project EMI – “Coordination and Advice Center for Business Start-ups, Migration & Integration” is an initiative within the framework of the business start-up offensive of the state of Saxony-Anhalt and is funded by the European Social Fund and the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The EMI advice center is located in the Innovation and Start-up Center Magdeburg, Mittagstraße 16p.
EMI advice center opens up new prospects for migrants in Saxony-Anhalt. “Stay here and start a business” is the motto. The EMI project team has set itself the goal of harnessing the start-up potential of people with foreign roots and compensating for disadvantages due to their origin.
The two project sponsors, ePlan consult GmbH and RKW Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH, bring expertise in business start-ups in Saxony-Anhalt, many years of experience in the management of federal and state projects with a focus on “innovation” and “skilled workers” and extensive experience in supporting migrants, not only in the start-up phase, but also in qualification and labor market integration.
Migrant companies already employ 2.2 million people and therefore account for 18% of all jobs in owner-managed SMEs. This is the result of a recent study by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The proportion of knowledge-related activities is growing. The contribution made by training has also increased steadily in recent years. It is no coincidence that the latest Bertelsmann study from 11.08.2016 calls migrant companies the “job engine for Germany”. Migrant start-ups are experiencing a remarkable upswing and at the same time require special attention.
This portfolio of the two project partners provides the basis for sensitizing, advising and supporting potential founders with a migration background for a possible start-up or company takeover in order to integrate themselves adequately and long-term in Germany with regard to acquired qualifications and existing skills. The core of the innovative approach is to promote start-ups by migrants on the basis of the existing research potential of scientific institutions and to generate topics that offer high potential for business start-ups. The EMI project team provides holistic support for this start-up process, taking into account commercial and technological criteria. In addition to knowledge-based and technology-oriented start-ups in the future-oriented sectors of the state of Saxony-Anhalt, the support services are also open to all other migrants in the state of Saxony-Anhalt who are willing and able to set up a business.
EMI – Project manager Elena Herrmann (ePlan consultGmbH)