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SBA summary of foreign-born STEM entrepreneurship

Updated: Author: Alina Kanametova

Reference Samples 5 pages Anonymized Access on request

Five-page SBA Office of Advocacy summary (2016) on foreign-born scientists and engineers in U.S. STEM entrepreneurship - a NIW national-importance source.

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About this document

A 5-page SBA Office of Advocacy research summary on foreign-born scientists and engineers in U.S. STEM entrepreneurship, based on 2010 SESTAT data. It compares U.S.-born and foreign-born college graduates, examines visa status, education origin, age of arrival, and job satisfaction, and highlights policy areas the report links to startup participation. The summary is from February 2016 and condenses a 67-page report.

Key points

  • Uses 2010 SESTAT data from NSCG and SDR, plus GEM and UNESCO sources.
  • Defines STEM entrepreneurship to include business owners, self-employed supervisors, and new venture joiners.
  • Finds U.S.-born college graduates have lower STEM entrepreneurship rates than foreign-born graduates.
  • Says the gap is largely explained by education level and field, plus age, experience, gender, and marital status.
  • Reports a near-4-point higher STEM entrepreneurship rate for immigrants whose highest degree was earned in the U.S.
  • States foreign-educated STEM workers show lower-than-expected entrepreneurship and more job dissatisfaction.
  • Lists top STEM business-owner countries as Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, Russia, Mexico, Germany, and India.
  • Notes E-2 eligibility limits and says many countries, including India and China, are not eligible.

What is inside

  1. Overall Findings
  2. Policy Implications
  3. Scope and Methodology
  4. Related Research

When it helps

A policy evidence summary for an EB-2 NIW or O-1 case that needs background on immigrant STEM entrepreneurship trends, visa constraints, and job-satisfaction findings. It also shows how the report frames policy issues around startup participation and retention of foreign STEM graduates.

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