On October 27-28, CTVC participated in the Coop Innovation Summit in Torres Vedras, Portugal, an event that brought together cooperatives from diverse sectors and geographies to discuss innovation in the cooperative movement.
The event revealed the diversity of cooperative models, from large industrial cooperatives like Mondragon to European and regional federations like Trentino, to local cooperatives across various sectors. The openness of major players in the sector for dialogue was notable.
Among the presentations, we highlight Mondragon, which addressed the interplay between values and growth. However, no prescriptive steps for the next global movements were presented. Naturally, cooperatives are, rightly so, more focused on their business, their members, and the community they serve than on orchestrating large-scale social change.
This reality raises a structural question: if cooperatives, by nature, focus on their immediate context, who then is responsible for creating the conditions for systemic change?
The format focused on networking and experience sharing. Our takeaway is that the international cooperative ecosystem presents itself without established mechanisms to structure cooperativism as an alternative to the dominant economic model — at least for now.
One of the topics addressed was the emerging theme of data cooperatives. Samuel Vance-Law from the Decentralization Research Center presented a report on the topic developed with the Project Liberty Institute.
We identified a gap that was absent from the discussion: the lack of bootstrapping mechanisms for innovative cooperatives. Data cooperatives only work at scale, making organic emergence extremely difficult without adequate support structures.
The event did not feature other cooperatives combining structural dimensions, technology focus, and local rootedness in the way CTVC operates. Conversations about technology in the cooperative sector remain at an early stage, with a long path ahead for integrating modern technological practices and embracing the synergies between technology and the cooperative ethos.
We thank the organizers and participants for the conversations and contacts established.
in non-profit initiatives
that we want to deepen and expand
In our workshops
with cooperative principles
CTVC was in the Azores for the launch of Aqua Motion, a European S+T+ARTS program that will support six artists in residency in Viana do Castelo, focused on artistic and technological solutions for water resource management.
Digital platform designed to support cooperatives, NGOs, and other shared management organizations with innovative tools for transparent resource allocation, collaborative decision-making, and distributed governance.
One idea at a time.
