The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) – the body representing co-ops worldwide – has formed a new think tank comprising co-ops and co-op groups from around the globe.
The International Co-operative Entrepreneurship Think Tank (ICETT) launched with its first meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in conjunction with the ICA General Assembly and the Co-operative Summit of the Americas.
The objective of the ICETT is to serve as a strategic hub for the co-op movement in order to strengthen the entrepreneurial performance of co-operatives.
At the inaugural meeting, the think tank discussed innovation, competitiveness, research, education, economic impact and inter-co-operation. The meeting was moderated by Javier Sotil, former president of the Mondragon Corporation who offered a view of the global challenges co-operative enterprises are facing.
Organisations with representatives at the meeting included the Midcounties Co-operative from the UK, Finland’s S-Group, the Kibbutz Movement from Israel, Fundacion Espriu from Spain, the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Co-operative Limited (IFFCO), and the Argentinian Cooperativa Obrera.
The list of participating co-ops in full:
- Instituto Movilizador de Fondos Cooperativos and Banco Credicoop Cooperativo
- Cooperativa de Portuarios del Puerto de San Martin
- Cooperativa La Cruz Azul
- Cooperativa Obrera
- Fundacion Espriu
- IFFCO
- Kibbutz Movement
- La Segunda
- Mondragon Corporation
- Rabobank
- Sancor Seguros
- Smart
- S-Group
- The Midcounties Co-operative
- Up Group
