About Us

The Committee on Co-operative Research (CCR) is a thematic committee of the International Co-operative Alliance. It is a bridge between academic research and the co-operative world.

The CCR began its work in 1957 as the Research Officers Group. In the 1970s the group changed its name to the ICA Research, Planning and Development Group reflecting its widening scope of activities and aspirations and efforts to provide practical input to to co-operatives' economic and social concerns. The Committee today functions as a network open to all those interested in sharing research on the co-operative model of enterprise.

Our Objectives

The CCR aims to strengthen research activities and increase the visibility of co-operative research and researchers. The committee is particularly interested in ensuring that co-op directors, managers and employees have access to the latest research so that the results can be applied to current co-operative issues. For example, questions concerning social audit, co-operative principles, innovation, co-operative identity, globalisation and the local dimensions of co-operatives, promoting the co-operative advantage and the emergence of new wave co-operatives have all been studied from both a practical and theoretical stance.

Our Activities

One of the main activities of the CCR is the organisation of research conferences at the global and regional levels, including the biennial Global Research Conference. The papers of the international conference are published in special issues of the Review of International Co-operation and via other research information sources. The committee also makes an effort to promote co-operative research through various communications vehicles, including this website.