Future of the Cooperative model : ICA Research Conference, Paris, 27-30 mai 2015. Call for papers 27/11/14.

ICA Research Conference 2015
PARIS May 27th – 30th 2015, AgroParisTech 

Crisis highlighted that innovation, creativity on products, production process, governance and financing are essential elements of the productive organization to face problems and grow up. Cooperatives and social economy organizations have been in many occasions creative and innovative to all functional stages for the benefit of the members and the socio economic environment that they are engaged. The broad interpretation of cooperative principles gives cooperatives flexibility in designing their governance and financial structures, which are extremely efficient in the pursuit of global strategies. In such activity (agriculture, finance, heath, education…), cooperatives and mutual successfully innovate to adapt the social and economic crisis. What are their advantages and weaknesses?

The first aim of the conference is to highlight experiences of cooperatives and social economic organizations on creativity and innovation. For that, the conference wants to bring together researchers, policy makers and practitioners from different cooperative and social economic fields and different countries to debate about the amazing creativity that cooperatives harness to innovate and develop new solutions for their members.

This conference has another aim that is to highlight the research on cooperatives and social economy. Which the main axes of research and graduate programs on these fields are, which the orientation of the research can be at the future and how different research axes can collaborate in order to have more efficient results. Researchers in charge for graduated programs and research centers but also students at graduate programs are welcomed to discuss these issues.

Proposals focusing on the innovation and creativity solutions of cooperatives would be particularly welcomed. General themes and specific sessions are proposed for selected papers and poster sessions.

Conference General Themes

G1: Cooperatives and Rural-Urban Development

Cooperatives innovate in order to furnish new services for their members in both rural and urban areas. This includes food, health, social, energy and educational services.

G2: Cooperatives and their business model specificities

Which management tools are particularly adapted to cooperatives? How can cooperatives' performances be measured?

G3: Global Competitiveness and Governance

What type(s) of governance can generate and confirm commitment from new cooperative members in case of restructuring, alliances, corporation acquisitions, and internationalization? Different modes of governance and relationships with cooperative owner members are observed: how and up to what extent can they innovate without changing cooperative identity? How can they exercise their democratic principle?

G4: Cooperatives confronted with the employment crisis

How cooperatives face the problem, what the solutions may be and how can they innovate in order to surpass the unemployment? 2

G5: Law and specificities

The legal status is at the heart of the adaptation of cooperatives to their institutional environment. How does legal status affect the type of control and power affecting cooperative owner members?

G6: Cooperatives, taxation and finance

Financial sector is characterized by a strong competition and innovation; at the same time other sectors and business are very much depending on it. Cooperatives of the financial sector have a specific role on helping small business. How they react to the crisis and how they use innovation in order to face the competition and help small business?

G7: Cooperatives and Social Responsibility, Sustainable development and Solidarity

Social responsibility is at the heart of relationships with cooperative stakeholders (cooperative members, employees, customers). How can sustainable development be turned into an asset? What new experiences can be observed with regard to the 3 pillars: economics, society and environment?

Key Dates

- Reception of session proposals: November 27th 2014

- Reception of abstract and submission proposals: November 27th 2014

- Acceptance of paper and submission proposals: December 27th 2015

- Reception of paper and poster submissions: March 27th 2015

- Early bird registration period: April 27th 2015

Guidelines for Abstract / Paper Submissions icaparis2015@gmail.com

To be eligible for a Selected papers Session or a Poster Session

* Select a General (G) theme

* Submit an Abstract (min. 350-max. 400 words) including title, keywords (and) JEL codes

* Upload full paper (pdf format) – mandatory.

Website : http://www.ica-paris2015.com

Technical specifications

* Abstract: The length of the Abstract text should not exceed 400 words

* Paper: The length of the Papers should not exceed 20 pages of text (approx. 40,000 characters (without spaces), Pdf format

* Formatting: Times New Roman 12pt; spacing: 1.5 rows; margins: 2.5cm. All references cited in the text (Author, Date) in the text should be given as endnotes. All notes should be at the end.

*After notification of acceptance (December 27th, 2015): Abstracts accepted for the selected papers session: the full paper can be uploaded until March 27th 2015.

Fee Registration

Standard Fee before April 27th 2015: 250€

Student Fee before April 27th 2015: 150 €

Late Fee after April 27th 2015: 300 €

Student Fee after April 27th 2015: 200 €

Possibility of Grants will be examined.

Publication policy

Selected ICA Conference papers will be proposed for publication in electronic proceedings and Scientific Journals (RECMA, Economie Rurale, other English Journals) if the author accepts.

Contact

icaparis2015@gmail.