International Summit of Cooperatives to discuss innovation and technology

Innovation advisor Navi Radjou and economist Jeremy Rifkin will be joining delegates at the International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec. The biannual event, which takes place on 11-13...

Innovation advisor Navi Radjou and economist Jeremy Rifkin will be joining delegates at the International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec.

The biannual event, which takes place on 11-13 October, brings together business leaders, researchers and decision makers from across the world. Now on its third edition, the summit is expected to gather more than 3,000 delegates and has been referred to as the “Davos of the co-operative movement”.

Navi Radjou
Navi Radjou

Navi Radjou is a strategic consultant based in Silicon Valley and has written extensively about the concept of frugal innovation.

He describes it as the ability of businesses to create high quality products with limited resources. His books, Jugaad Innovation and From Smart to Wise, have become international bestsellers. The idea of frugal innovation was also the subject of Navi Radjou’s latest book, published by the Economist in February 2015.

A fellow at Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, Mr Radjou was a keynote speaker at the 2015 World Council of Credit Unions Conference in Denver. His work is inspired by the affordable solutions found by entrepreneurs from emerging countries. At the summit he will explore how these case studies can be applied to co-operative businesses.

 Jeremy Rifkin [photo: Stephan Röhl]
Jeremy Rifkin [photo: Stephan Röhl]

Programme announced for International Summit of Cooperatives

Economist and social theorist Jeremy Rifkin thinks that the economic model resulting from the second industrial revolution is no longer viable and that countries must redirect their economies to restore growth and employment.

Mr Rifkin has written 20 books on the impact of scientific and technological changes on the economy, society and environment. He has advised the European Parliament, the European Commission and heads of state.

In his presentation at the summit he will look at how the development of renewable energy initiatives, technological advancements and the emergence of an economy based on the sharing of goods, spaces and tools will drastically reduce the margin cost of production.

“The International Summit of Cooperatives is a privileged time to exchange points of view and go off the beaten path to find innovative solutions that will help co-operatives and mutuals grow sustainably,” said Monique Leroux, president of the International Co-operative Alliance and co-host of the International Summit of Cooperatives with the Desjardins Group.

“We are very happy to welcome these two speakers, whose original thinking contributes to the evolution of our methods.”

The summit has recently unveiled a list of 100 speakers who will address the conference, including Philippe Brassac, chief executive of Crédit Agricole; Dan Coulter, president and chief executive of Coast Capital Savings; Andrew Crane, chief executive of Co-operative Bulk Handling; Philippe Mangin, chair of InVivo, Mary McBride, president of CoBank, ACB; José Orbaiceta, treasurer of Cooperar; Inja Park, chair of Consumer activities at iCoop South Korea; Ben Reid, chief executive of the Midcounties Co-operative; Robynn Shrader, chief executive of the National Cooperative Grocers Association in the USA; and Hilde Vernaillen, chief executive of Groupe P&V Assurances in Belgium.

Logo of the 2016 International Summit of Cooperatives
Logo of the 2016 International Summit of Cooperatives
In this article


Join the Conversation