Digital platforms such as Airbnb, Uber or Deliveroo disrupt consumption, production and the world of work. Existing platform organizations have been criticized for increasing social inequality, fostering discrimination, and threatening employment and work conditions. Can cooperative platforms ensure a better distribution of economic gains, secure social rights of platform workers and guarantee equal access for all? How can such platforms grow and proliferate to compete with dominant platforms? What support is needed from the institutional environment to foster innovative alternatives and social innovation in the platform economy? In this session, we want to discuss the potential of cooperative models in the platform economy and develop solutions for tackling existing challenges faced by these models.  

Speakers and organizers:  

Speakers: Catherine Friedrich (French General confederation of the workers cooperatives, CGScop), Erdmuthe Klaer-Morselli (REVES network), Johanna Kühner (SEND e.V. and SuperCoop Berlin).  

Organizers: 

Sarah de Heusch (Smart cooperative), Denis Stokkink (Pour la Solidarité, Belgium), Rense Corten (Utrecht University, Netherlands) and Dominika Wruk (University of Mannheim).  

About the event:  

The workshop will take place at the European Social Economy Summit’ (#EUSES). #Euses is a jointly organized digital conference by the European Commission and the City of Mannheim. The #EUSES is a conference which aims at strengthening the social economy in Europe and harness its contribution to economic development, social inclusion as well as green and digital transitions. The discussions will focus on three dimensions: digitalisation of the Social Economy, (social) innovation, cross-country and cross-sectoral collaboration. The #EUSES is an opportunity to bring all stakeholders active in the social economy together. 

Please follow this link for more information on the event and to register: https://www.euses2020.eu/