Immigration and its contribution to innovation: A case of Turkish immigrants in Germany

In recent years, a wide range of studies has investigated the correlation between the issues of immigration and innovation. Establishing a positive association, these works have deducted that immigration contributes to innovation. It is alleged that growth and competition have risen by immigration by means of provision of cultural diversity, increase of variety in human capital, supply of knowledge transfer and allocation of novel knowledge and skills to the native people of the host country as complement to their knowledge and skills. The main purpose of this thesis is to make an evaluation about the contribution of Turkish immigrants in Germany to innovation and innovative activities. The scope of the study is based on the analysis pertaining to number of Turkish entrepreneurs, influences of Turks to human capital in Germany, Turkish students studying in Germany as semi-finished labour force, business areas and sectors that Turks are employed, cultural and economic contributions to the society by Turks and Turkish inventors in German companies applied for a patent. As a result it is concluded that Turks contribute to innovation and innovative activities in Germany by diversifying human capital, conveying novel knowledge and skills, augmenting cultural diversity and starting numerous businesses. Keywords: Immigration, Innovation, Measuring Innovation, Turkish Immigrants in Germany, Turkish Entrepreneurs in Germany