ASETT Arizmendiarrieta Social Economy Think Tank
An international centre for knowledge and sustainable develoment for social economy enterprises & organisations
ASETT Arizmendiarrieta Social Economy Think Tank's mission is to establish itself as an international center for knowledge and sustainable develoment for social economy enterprises and organisations. The name was chosen as a tribute to José María Arizmendiarrieta, a universal figure in co-operativism and social transformation through enterprise. Arizmendiarrieta is internationally recognised for founding the co-operative movement that gave rise to MONDRAGON Corporation.
It was initially promoted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy of the Government of Spain, through an agreement signed with the Spanish Business Confederation of the Social Economy (CEPES) on July 21, 2023, and officially launched in 2025.
This project is part of the Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) for the Social and Care Economy. Its purpose is to consolidate a shared knowledge space that facilitates the transfer of best practices, fosters innovation and co-operation between organisations, and contributes to the sector’s adaptation to current major challenges: digital transformation, ecological transition, internationalisation, and the fight against inequality.
The seven founding members of ASETT are the Government of spain, the Basque Government, the Spanish Social Economy Employers' Confederation, the High Council of Council of Co-operatives of Euskadi, Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, the City Council of Donostia–San Sebastián, and Mondragon Corporation.
