On 16-17 February, ICA Director General Jeroen Douglas and President of Cooperatives Europe Giuseppe Guerini visited Mondragon’s headquarters in the Basque Region of Spain.
Mondragon is the world’s largest worker cooperative group, and “a living ecosystem capable of providing cooperative responses to the challenges of 21st-century society” said Douglas.
The programme included exchanges with MONDRAGON Corporation, Mondragon Unibertsitatea, IKERLAN, Fagor Arrasate S. Coop. and LKS NEXT, as well as meetings with ICA member KONFEKOOP Confederación de Cooperativas de Euskadi and also the Kooperatiben Kontseilua. Discussions with the municipalities of Arrasate and Bilbao further highlighted the strong relationship between cooperatives, innovation and territorial development.
At the LKS Next legal and advisory institute, the pair gained insights into how cooperatives can optimise legal frameworks and taxation while remaining true to their core values, while at IKERLAN, a premier research and development centre, they were shown advancements in AI and cybersecurity which are utilised by global giants including Nespresso (Nestlé). They also visited Fagor Electronica Industrial, seeing firsthand how industrial excellence is maintained through collective ownership.
This year marks 80 years since the passing of Don José María Arizmendiarrieta (1915-1976), the founder of the Mondragon experience. “Meeting his nephew and the Alcalde (Mayor) of the Ayuntamiento (City Council) underscored the deep roots this movement has in the local community,” said Douglas. He and Guerini paid their respects and laid a floral tribute at Arizmendiarrieta’s final resting place.
“A true highlight was lunching with Sra. Leire Mugerza, President of the Mondragon Congress,” added Douglas. “Recently recognised as a leading businesswoman in Spain, she is a powerful advocate for women's empowerment and career development within the cooperative model.”
His key takeaway was the scale and scope of the organisation. “Mondragon is a global powerhouse of 92 interconnected cooperatives,” said Douglas. “By bundling strengths and expanding internationally, they prove that a competitive market position and cooperative practices are not mutually exclusive.
“This model of democratic Empowerment’, through social training and shared sovereignty, deserves a global stage. With the support of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the Mondragon philosophy can continue to inspire a more equitable global economy.
