Resource context (publisher and author)
This resource is a trend study about the future role of cooperatives (“Genossenschaften”) in building a more sustainable economy, with a particular focus on rural regions in Germany. It was produced on behalf of Genossenschaftsverband – Verband der Regionen e.V. (a German cooperative association). The author is Dr. Daniel Dettling (Zukunftsinstitut), and the study frames cooperatives as an organisational model relevant to societal transformation, regional resilience, and sustainable development.
What the study set out to examine
Using the Zukunftsinstitut’s “megatrend” framework, the study explores how large-scale societal shifts affect rural areas and what this means for cooperative business models. The page summarises that the analysis combines trend research with interviews from selected cooperatives, and it also draws on a representative survey of 2,043 people in Germany conducted by YouGov Deutschland GmbH in January 2022.
Key data points on perceptions of cooperatives
A central factual finding highlighted is the strong public perception of cooperatives as future-oriented: 69% of respondents view cooperatives as a business form with future potential, and 76% see them as important problem-solvers for society. These figures are used in the study to argue that cooperative approaches are widely recognised as viable responses to current challenges, including those linked to sustainability and social cohesion.
Megatrends shaping rural regions and cooperative opportunities
The study identifies four megatrends as especially influential for rural areas: Neo-Ecology, Connectivity, Mobility, and Silver Society. In the summary on the page, these trends are presented as drivers of new needs and new possibilities for cooperative initiatives. The concept of “glocalization” is also emphasised: connecting global developments with local implementation to strengthen regional production and supply chains.
Digitalisation as an enabler for rural living and services
Digitalisation is described as a key factor that can make rural areas more attractive by enabling new forms of living and working. In the study’s framing, improved digital connectivity supports innovation in local services and creates additional scope for cooperatives to organise and deliver solutions across distance, which can matter for essential services and local economies.
Relevance for sustainable housing and community infrastructure
Several application areas named on the page link directly to sustainable housing and inclusive place-based development. The study points to potential cooperative activity in social infrastructure, housing/living/working, climate protection, mobility, local supply, agriculture, financial services, cultural work, and youth engagement. This positions cooperatives not only as economic actors but also as community institutions that can support affordable, socially inclusive, and sustainability-oriented local development.
Challenges and recommended actions
The page highlights two main challenges: limited awareness of cooperatives, especially among younger people, and the need for greater support to found and develop new cooperatives. The recommendations described include using current crises as an opportunity for renewal, combining solidarity, ecology, and digitalisation, simplifying cooperative founding processes, increasing citizen participation, and strengthening diversity in leadership.
Overall implications highlighted in the resource
In the study’s conclusions as summarised on the page, cooperatives are presented as well-positioned to contribute to solutions for energy transition, healthcare provision, digitalisation, and local supply chains—topics closely related to resilient, sustainable communities. At the same time, the study argues that realising this potential depends on broader visibility of the cooperative model and practical enabling conditions for new cooperative initiatives in rural regions.