Building a Research Network for Platform Cooperativism: Key Insights and Future Steps
Introduction
In an era where platform cooperatives are gaining traction as a viable alternative to traditional business models, researchers and practitioners are coming together to share insights and drive innovation. This blog post summarizes our recent collaborative online-session from December 8, 2025 session where experts from various fields convened to discuss and explore research topics, open questions, needs, and resources related to platform cooperativism. Big thanks to Melike Kaplan and Anannya Bhowmik for planning and moderating this kick-off event with us!
Understanding Platform Cooperatives
Platform cooperatives are businesses that leverage online platforms to connect individuals or groups while adhering to cooperative principles such as democratic decision-making and shared ownership. This section highlights the fundamental aspects of cooperatives and platforms, emphasizing their synergy in creating a more equitable digital economy.
Key Research Topics and Open Questions
During the session, participants identified several critical research topics and open questions that are pivotal for advancing the field of platform cooperativism. These include:
- Design Questions: Exploring participatory design practices to support platform cooperatives.
- Employment Generation: Investigating how platform cooperatives can create employment opportunities for marginalized groups.
- Conflict Resolution: Addressing democratic decision-making challenges within cooperatives.
Needs and Resources
The collaborative session also surfaced essential needs and resources required to foster the growth of platform cooperatives. Key needs identified include:
- Funding: Securing financial support for research and cooperative initiatives.
- Conflict Resolution Tools: Developing mechanisms to manage decision-making conflicts within cooperatives.
Resources shared by participants included the Platform Cooperative Guide and various research papers that provide valuable insights into the field.
Breakout Sessions: Deep Dive into Key Issues
Participants were divided into smaller groups to discuss specific research topics and open questions in depth. The breakout sessions covered a range of issues, including:
- Surviving as Non-Capitalist Co-ops: Strategies for cooperatives to thrive in a capitalist world.
- Scaling Cooperatives: Exploring ways to bring cooperative models out of the niche and into mainstream business.
- Decision-Making and Agency: Discussing models that maintain democratic principles while ensuring efficient decision-making.
Key Takeaways
The session yielded several key takeaways that are crucial for the future of platform cooperativism:
- Collaborative Knowledge Sharing: The importance of creating shared resources and platforms for continuous knowledge exchange.
- Interdisciplinary Approach: Emphasizing the need for a transdisciplinary approach to make research relevant and actionable.
- Community Engagement: Highlighting the significance of engaging with practitioners to align research goals with cooperative needs.
Call to Action
To build on the momentum generated during this session, we invite researchers and practitioners to join us in creating a sustained research network. Here are some steps you can take:
- Join the Discussion: Participate in future sessions to continue exploring key topics and share your insights.
- Contribute Resources: Share research papers, guides, and other resources that can benefit the community.
- Engage in Peer-to-Peer Learning: Collaborate with other researchers and practitioners to address common challenges and develop innovative solutions.
Join our shared info resource here:
Those of you who wish to get notified for follow-up events and who would like to connect with people interested in building a collective research agenda, please join our shared nextcloud folder that summarises all the key resources that were created during the event: https://nextcloud.platformcoop.de/index.php/s/QWRtz58D8Apde75
Together, we can drive the growth of platform cooperativism and create a more equitable digital economy. Let’s continue this journey towards a cooperative future!
