ASETT recently welcomed representatives from The Principle 6 Cooperative for a working visit focused on exploring new opportunities for international collaboration in artificial intelligence, cooperative innovation and the Social Economy.

The Principle 6 Cooperative is an initiative led by Howard Brodsky, founder of CCA Global Partners and one of the world’s leading figures in the contemporary cooperative movement, widely recognised for his work promoting business models based on cooperation, shared ownership and democratic economic development.

During their visit, the delegation explored a range of organisations within the Basque Social Economy and innovation ecosystem, meeting with MONDRAGON Corporation, Basque Culinary Center / BCC Innovation, Koopera, Mondragon Team Academy, and other organisations working in cooperativism, innovation and social transformation.

The programme provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and open discussions on the role the Social Economy can play in developing technological models built around values such as data sovereignty, democratic governance, cooperation between organisations and the creation of shared value.

One of the central themes of the discussions was CoopAI, the initiative developed by The Principle 6 Cooperative to build a federated, cooperatively owned and democratically governed artificial intelligence infrastructure. The model envisions a system in which cooperatives retain control over their own data while sharing knowledge and capabilities through a global network of collective intelligence.

The Principle 6 approach offers a cooperative alternative to centralised AI models by promoting distributed infrastructures built on collaboration between cooperatives, federations and organisations across different regions.

For ASETT, the visit forms part of its broader work in international foresight and the development of strategic partnerships that connect technological innovation with the Social Economy.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the global economy and raising fundamental questions about knowledge ownership, technology governance and the distribution of value. In this context, initiatives such as CoopAI offer new opportunities for the Social Economy to play an active role in building digital models that are more democratic, inclusive and cooperative.