The ICA CCR Europe 2026 conference takes place at the Universitat Politècnica de València on 3-6 November under the theme "Cooperative Enterprises for Shared Progress: Facing Global Challenges Together”.
The theme, says the organisers, “reflects the conviction that cooperatives — in their organisational and territorial diversity — are essential tools to face today’s economic, social, and environmental challenges. From digital transformation to ecological transition and social cohesion, the conference aims to generate and share research that supports more sustainable, inclusive, and democratic development.”
The 17 research streams range from governance and law to technology, education and the environment, as well as specific sectors, with confirmed speakers including Miguel Otero-Iglesias (one of Europe’s leading voices on global financial governance and the geopolitical dynamics between the EU, China, and the US), Benjamin Huybrechts (Professor at IESEG School of Management (Lille) whose research deals with alternative organizations that deploy an economic activity to serve the community and society) and Tine De Moor (Professor of Social Enterprises and Institutions for Collecive Action at Erasmus University Rotterdam).
The first day of the conference is aimed at young scholars in the early stages of their academic careers, such as master’s and doctoral students and young researchers, and aims to provide a space for meeting, learning, and exchanges.
From 4-6 November, the conference will bring together researchers, teachers, professionals, and policymakers from Europe and other countries to explore current trends, challenges, and perspectives in the cooperative sector, share cutting-edge research, and foster dialogue between academia and cooperative practice.
Parallel to presentations, there will be study tours to cooperative businesses, including Consum, Spain’s largest cooperative with more than 1,000 supermarkets, and wine-maker Bodegas Reymos. Here, members will highlight the importance of the cooperative model, which allows local winegrowers to join forces to improve production, guarantee the marketing of their grapes, and maintain the region’s winemaking tradition.
Find out more and register here.
