innova eG

innova eG is a German cooperative based in Berlin that provides consulting, research and development services for cooperative solutions. It was founded in November 2001 on the initiative of the Bundesverein zur Förderung des Genossenschaftsgedankens (BzFdG e.V.) together with other cooperative-promoting institutions and cooperative associations. The organisation works nationwide and is described as the longest-standing professional support organisation for new cooperatives outside the established cooperative associations. The cooperative's work focuses on supporting teams and initiatives that want to set up self-help cooperatives in their local environments. Its services include project development, advice, research and the development of practical concepts for new cooperatives, particularly in fields such as housing and energy. Experienced cooperative project developers, researchers and experts shape the organisation's profile. innova eG emerged from earlier efforts to revive the cooperative idea in Germany. In the early 1980s, cooperatives in West Germany had fallen largely out of public awareness, and few new cooperatives were being founded. The founding of the Verein zur Förderung des Genossenschaftsgedankens (today the Bundesverein) in 1986 gave new momentum to the cooperative movement. Between 1989 and 1991, the association ran a project of the Federal Ministry of Labour called 'innova' to advise and support new cooperative foundations. Many experiences from this development work fed into state-level programmes to support new cooperatives and into work with cooperatives in the new federal states. In 2001, the Bundesverein zur Förderung des Genossenschaftsgedankens, together with other organisations supporting new foundations, established innova eG. Between 2002 and 2007, innova eG carried out several projects for the development and founding of new cooperatives within the framework of the European Union's EQUAL Community Initiative. This work led to the elaboration of action concepts for job creation through new cooperatives, the innova phase model for developing new cooperatives, and recommendations for reforming the German Cooperative Act in 2006. Today, innova eG continues to operate as a cooperative consultancy and development organisation. Its board members and project developers are active in public debate and media, for example on success factors and hurdles in founding and stabilising new housing cooperatives, and on the role of cooperatively organised energy supply as a third pillar of energy provision.

The history of innova eG is closely tied to the revival of the cooperative idea in Germany. In the early 1980s, cooperatives in West Germany had fallen largely out of public awareness. Although well over 10 million people in West Germany were members of a cooperative, most of these cooperatives — in banking, agriculture and housing — had existed for a long time, and hardly any new cooperatives were being founded. Numerous legal regulations made new foundations in the cooperative legal form difficult, especially the founding of small cooperatives. The founding of the Verein zur Förderung des Genossenschaftsgedankens (today the Bundesverein zur Förderung des Genossenschaftsgedankens) in 1986 gave the cooperative idea new momentum. Between 1989 and 1991, the association was the sponsor of a project of the Federal Ministry of Labour called 'innova' for advising and supporting new foundations. Many experiences from this development work flowed into programmes of the federal states to support new cooperatives. The innova project also gathered experience with cooperatives in the new federal states, where new cooperative audit associations emerged. In 2001, the Bundesverein zur Förderung des Genossenschaftsgedankens, together with other organisations supporting new foundations, founded innova eG in Berlin as a cooperative. Between 2002 and 2007, innova eG carried out several projects for the development and founding of new cooperatives within the framework of the European Union's EQUAL Community Initiative. This work culminated in the elaboration of action concepts for creating jobs with new cooperatives, the innova phase model for developing new cooperatives, and recommendations for reforming the Cooperative Act in 2006. Since then, innova eG has continued to work nationwide as a consulting, research and development organisation for cooperative solutions. It is described as the longest-standing professional support organisation for new cooperatives outside the cooperative associations. Its project developers and board members remain active in advising housing, energy and other cooperative initiatives, and in public debate on cooperative development.

• 2006

  Recommendations for reforming the German Cooperative Act were developed as part of innova eG's work.

• 2002

  innova eG carried out several projects for the development and founding of new cooperatives within the EU EQUAL Community Initiative (until 2007).

• 2001

  innova eG founded in Berlin as a cooperative by the Bundesverein zur Förderung des Genossenschaftsgedankens together with other cooperative-promoting institutions and associations.

• 1989

  Start of the 'innova' project of the Federal Ministry of Labour, sponsored by the association, to advise and support new cooperative foundations (until 1991).

• 1986

  Founding of the Verein zur Förderung des Genossenschaftsgedankens (today Bundesverein zur Förderung des Genossenschaftsgedankens), which gave new momentum to the cooperative idea.

The longest-standing professional support organisation for new cooperatives outside the established cooperative associations, working nationwide in Germany.

• innova phase model for developing new cooperatives

  A model developed by innova eG to guide the process of developing new cooperatives.

• Action concepts for job creation through new cooperatives

  Concepts elaborated as part of innova eG's EQUAL projects.

• Recommendations for reforming the Cooperative Act (2006)

  Policy recommendations developed from innova eG's practical experience.

1. 1Innova eG - Startseiteinnova-eg.de
2. 2Innova eG - Geschichte der innovainnova-eg.de
3. 3innova eG - Wikidatawikidata.org