Author(s): Éric Brat, Inmaculada Buendía Martínez, François Normandin, Nabila Ouchene
Subject: Innovation and cooperatives
Date of publication: April 2018

The economic success of cooperatives and mutuals relies mostly on the dynamism of the regions where they are established. However, such regions face multiple challenges due to many (and rapid) socio-demographic, economic, and technological changes. The study focuses on how  these organizations can maintain their local presence through an innovation approach. The first part of the study defines a regional framework, the second part explores cases of leading innovation practices from financial cooperatives and mutuals, and the third part proposes an analytical framework to identify local priorities, select and deploy targeted innovation portfolios. This study also shows that cooperatives are hybrid organizations capable of creating “hybrid” innovation, while pursuing two objectives: to develop their economic activities and to support local development.

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