2026 Online lecture: Co-operative ecosystems

Co-operatives and their ecosystems: The 'why', 'who', and 'how' in supporting the sector to grow

Guest speakers: Frédéric Dufays and Stefanie Friedel, Centre of Expertise for Cooperative Entrepreneurship at KU Leuven, Belgium

In line with the theme of the 2026 Co-op Fortnight - Co-operate and we can change the world - the annual online lecture reflected this focus by looking at contexts and conditions that support the growth and development of the sector. 

Co-operatives do not exist in a vacuum, but in relationship to their  stakeholders – including their members, and also public services, policymakers, competitors in the market, educators, and advisors in the field. Thoroughly mapping these networks of institutions, individuals, and other organisations surrounding any given co-operative enterprise is a crucial step in understanding how it can flourish and grow.  To that aim, thinking in terms of ‘entrepreneurial ecosystems’  is a  theoretically grounded, holistic approach that helps to map any enterprise’s system of interdependent actors.

Drawing on their recent report (written with co-author Nazik Beishenaly) examining the  'why', 'who', and 'how' of supporting co-operative sectors, Frédéric and Stefanie examined the reasons behind applying an ecosystems approach, the variety of different actors, and how each of them plays a role in inhibiting or supporting not only any given co-operative, but also the co-operative movement in a certain region or nation. 

You can listen and watch a recording of the lecture below ⬇️