AI and the Future of Cooperative Research

INTRODUCTION

The ICA CCR European Conference presents a unique opportunity to convene researchers within the cooperative sector, offering a platform to exchange resources and foster connections for future collaborations. The Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), in collaboration with the ICA CCR Young & Emerging Scholars (YES) Network and the support of the Institute of New Economic Thinking (INET) Young Scholars Initiative (YSI), organizes a workshop dedicated to emerging researchers as a side event of the main conference program.

The overall aim of the workshop is to create a space for collective reflection among young and emerging scholars on how cooperative research is currently being conducted, transformed, and mobilized across contexts. In particular, the workshop is designed to balance methodological discussion, forward-looking debates on emerging tools such as AI, and moments of collective co-creation and exchange across regions.

The workshop will open with a short introduction and ice-breaking session, aimed at fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment. This moment will allow participants to briefly introduce themselves, map their research interests, and surface key expectations, setting the tone for an interactive and participatory workshop.

The first session (1h) is a keynote class by Professor Jordi Linares on AI in research. Titled “The AI Research Toolkit: Essential Tools to Accelerate Your Academic Workflow”, it will examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping research practices. The objective is to explore both the opportunities offered by AI tools (in terms of efficiency, data analysis, and knowledge dissemination) and the risks they entail, including issues of bias, data ownership, and epistemic authority. Particular attention will be given to the extent to which AI aligns—or conflicts—with cooperative values, especially regarding collective ownership and democratic control of knowledge production. The session will also provide space for participants to share practical experiences and reflect on how these tools are being integrated into their own research practices.

The second session (1.15h) aims to equip Young Scholars with rigorous methodologies to quantify and qualify the “Cooperative Identity” (ICA 6th and 7th principles) in their doctoral or post-doctoral research. With a Keynote of Prof. Millán Díaz Foncea it will be structured as an interactive Methodology Lab where participants will be divided into small groups to apply a Social Business Model Canvas or a Principle-Based Indicator Matrix to their own research cases. Peer-to-peer feedback on methodological rigor and data collection challenges will follow. 

The third part of the workshop (1.30h) will be dedicated to collective exchange and network-building. The ICA CCR-YES Network will present its Manifesto on Cooperative Research to create a shared space for discussion around the implications, challenges, and engagements of being a cooperative scholar on cooperatives. This session will encourage participants to collectively reflect on key themes, priorities, and future directions for cooperative research, fostering a sense of shared ownership and strengthening connections across regions.

This session also has the objective of bridging academic research with policy and practice, creating a dialogue between young scholars, institutional actors, and practitioners to explore how cooperatives are positioned within global development frameworks, the challenges they face, and the opportunities for future collaboration. It will also provide a platform to reflect on how research can more effectively inform policy and support cooperative ecosystems.

With the support of YSI, we will be able to financially contribute to flight or accommodation expenses of at least 10 of the 50 expected participants.

Program (DRAFT)