Platform Cooperativism Consortium

= will "help to connect the practitioners in this eco system with each other and with organizations that can support their effort to change minds and bring real value and a fairer Internet to real people". [1]

URL = http://platformcoop.newschool.edu/

An initiative from Trebor Sch?olz et al., launched at Platform Cooperativism 2016.

Description

"1) RESEARCH:

The Platform Cooperativism Consortium functions as a think-and-do tank that develops a critical analysis of emerging, democratically-run, cooperatively- owned projects. The PCC will form a strong research group that will identify and advance emerging projects in this area and pose questions about their political, economic, and social significance.

ECOSYSTEM

Studying of the broader ecosystem of digital labor in order to understand the economic contexts into which platform co-ops can fit.

BUSINESS AND GOVERNANCE MODELS

Identifying innovative business models to ensure the long-term sustainability of platform co-ops, considering conducive sectors, services, the necessary amount of startup capital, proven leadership models, and a focus on blockchain technologies

Study of theories, practices, and tools that support democratic governance

Study of the multi-stakeholder platform co-op model rooted in the participation of workers, consumers, founders, investors, and geographically distributed communities.

PLATFORM CO-OP BADGES

Developing a platform cooperativism badge that is based on a comprehensive assessment framework

COOPERATIVELY OWNED AND OPERATED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Study cooperatively-owned and operated Artificial Intelligence (e.g., self-driving ecologically sustainable cars)

SOCIAL ECONOMY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Digital mainstream as well as cooperatively owned employment platforms in Southeast Asia (e.g. Didi and taxi hailing apps in mainland China)

2) ADVOCACY

TOWARDS A DIVERSIFIED PLATFORM ECONOMY

The PCC develops policy briefs for local and federal legislators. The consortium works towards a diversified digital landscape in which alternatives can coexist with dominant platforms. The PCC informs municipalities about the need to fund alternatives to extractive businesses that demonstrate monopolistic patterns.

WORKING WITH REBEL CITIES

The consortium identifies supportive cities around the world in order to collaborate with these municipalities (e.g. Barcelona).

PRO-COMMONS

Emphasize the importance of the pro-commons model for the digital economy, and a more equal and sustainable society.

ADVANCING PLATFORM CO-OPS

The PCC advances projects by members of the Consortium and the cooperative platform economy community at large.

THE SCOTTISH COOPERATIVE ECONOMY

Begin conversations with Scottish government about the role of platform cooperative economy, link to existing Scottish cooperative economy.

3) EDUCATION

PROMOTING A CULTURAL SHIFT

The PCC puts learning front and center; it promotes a cultural shift to a mindset and literacy of cooperativism, mutualism and the commons, especially in the startup, and social enterprise sectors.

EVENTS

As part of this educational agenda, it forges exchanges between the various actors within the ecosystem. Annual events such as conferences, workshops, or DiscoTechs are an essential part of the educational mission. The locations for these events rotate every year. These events can lead to the creation of international PCC hubs in Europe, Australia, and Asia. Platform cooperativism events have taken place in many cities — Paris (May 2016), Barcelona (November 2015/October 2016) and more are planned in cities like Toronto, Mexico City, Berlin, Melbourne, London, and others.

SCHOLARS IN RESIDENCE

Establish a cooperative “scholar in residence” at University of Edinburgh in conjunction with the Paolo Quattrone Business School

A PLATFORM CO-OP MOOC

Creation of a MOOC educating people about the cooperative platform economy in a way that is also responsive to critiques of MOOCs.

COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

Reintroduce cooperative principles into higher education. Develop a platform cooperative curriculum, to be taught on college campuses, in tandem with the “start up” kit. Potential “cooperative code school” in the work in Edinburgh.

Working to advise on a curriculum piece that would teach cooperative engagement and principles. Teachers could add that as segment of their curriculum and courses.

4) DESIGN & EXPERIMENTATION

DESIGN CONSULTANCY

The PCC functions as a design consultancy to achieve more ambition in the design of user experiences. It aims to support startups and existing companies committed to experiment with shared ownership and governance.

FOCUS ON DESIGN PROCESS

Adapt lean startup methods, free/libre open source software- focus on design methods and processes to support cooperative/democratic labor formations

CO-DESIGN FOR WORKER CO-OPS

Offer co-design process for worker cooperatives (consider financial support by cities of NYC and Boston)

5) APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT

A WORDPRESS FOR COOPERATIVE LABOR PLATFORMS

One key project of the consortium is the support and coordination of the development of “off-the-shelf” software solutions that governments and businesses could implement as alternatives to the emerging monopolies associated with the sharing economy. This includes the need for core software for this ecosystem such as an open-source labor platform for cooperative businesses that can be easily implemented by cooperatives that would like to move their business online. In addition, software developers could customize platform solutions for new or potential platform co-ops.

PLATFORM CO-OP STARTUP KIT

Assemble a platform co-op startup kit (legal, design, Floss code)

6) SOLIDARITY

FAIRER SUPPLY CHAINS

The facilitation of connections and the nurturing of a mutual support within the cooperative ecosystem is a declared goal of the Consortium. Concretely, this could lead to projects supporting interoperability and the exchange of data. How do we build cooperation among cooperatives to create a fairer supply chain for the tech economy?

7) FUNDING

CONNECTING THOSE WHO SEEK INVENTIVE FUNDING SOLUTIONS

It is the goal of the consortium to connect organizations and convene discussions among those who are interested in financing projects within the ecosystem. These organizations will formulate best practices that can then be used by emerging platform co-ops. The consortium is interested in finding and developing inventive funding solutions also involving models associated with blockchain technology and crowdfunding, etc.

Venture funds, grand challenges for platform co-ops, a platform co-op prize, postdoc fellowships, or scholars in residence.

8) LEGAL CONSULTANCY

CONNECTING THOSE WHO SEEK INVENTIVE FUNDING SOLUTIONS

The consortium supports cooperatives that are interested in moving their business online but it also advises groups that want to form (or transform into) cooperatives with legal consulting services.

The PCC aims to create legal templates that will make it easier for platform coops to start out.

Work on licenses that advance collaboration between co-ops.

9) DOCUMENTATION AND MAPPING

The consortium documents platform co-ops and other projects within that ecosystem through articles. In addition, the PCC aims to map the cooperatively-owned Internet, also visualizing linkages within it. It contributes to related mapping efforts of the solidarity economy and other social movements.

Set up a working group to establish an aggregator for news items within the network to stay abreast of new intellectual developments and technological trends.

10) SPEAKERS BUREAU

Frequently, we receive invitations to talk in cities all over the world. This is beyond the capacity of any individual. Therefore we need to establish a group of people who can take on speaking engagements in various countries. Speakers need to be highly qualified to address the cooperative platform economy."

(http://platformcoop.newschool.edu/index.php/activities/)

More Information

• For updated information in coming weeks stay tuned at @platformcoop .