Coming back home after the sun rises: Returnee entrepreneurs and growth of high tech industries

► We examine the claim the overseas returnees were central to initiating development of the information and communication technology industries in Taiwan, China, and India. ► We show that returnee entrepreneurs played a major role only after domestic entrepreneurs had created the early successful ICT firms. ► Returnee entrepreneurs were more important in the expansion rather than initial phase. ► Developing nations should emphasize developing their policy and regulatory environment for indigenous entrepreneurship rather than court returnee entrepreneurs.