The Integration Centre is a non-governmental organisation which is committed to the integration and inclusion of people from immigrant backgrounds in Ireland.

A 2008 report from a nationwide survey of 1,108 foreign nationals resident in Ireland highlighted that 12.6% of immigrants in Ireland either fully or partially own their own business, a rate of entrepreneurial activity that is higher than found amongst the native Irish population.

The profile of ethnic businesses in Ireland found that they are generally small in scale (64% have an annual turnover of less than €50,000), young in age, concentrated in the locally traded services sectors and operating at the margins of the mainstream economic environment. The report also highlighted that the vast majority of them are struggling to survive.

The report was co-authored by Dr Thomas Cooney who is the Academic Director of the Institute for Minority Entrepreneurship at the Dublin Institute of Technology. He has conducted extensive research on ethnic entrepreneurship in Ireland and this section of the website compiles a number of articles written by him relating to immigrants starting a business in Ireland. 
 
To read A mapping of ethnic entrepreneurship in Ireland click here