The IRU was honoured to participate in this year’s Cooperative Congress “Stronger Together,” held in the prestigious Hofburg Vienna and jointly hosted by the Österreichischer Raiffeisenverband (ÖRV) and the Österreichischer Genossenschaftsverband (ÖGV). With more than 400 participants from across the cooperative ecosystem, the congress demonstrated the vitality, diversity, and future potential of the cooperative model.
Under the inspiring motto Stronger Together, the programme highlighted both the enduring cooperative values and the innovative spirit that drives cooperatives forward.
The contributions were as diverse as they were thought-provoking:
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Football coach Ralf Rangnick shared insights on leadership, teamwork, and what organisations can learn from high-performance sports.
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Trebor Scholz, Stefanie A. Schubert, Clemens Pig, Georg Sladek, Michael Hengl, Theresia Theurl, Matthias Tillmann, and others discussed cooperative intelligence, the future of cooperative banking, digital transformation, and emerging forms of membership and “cooperative fans.”
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Academic and practical perspectives blended seamlessly, illustrating how cooperatives can remain resilient while embracing change.
Throughout the day, the cooperative identity—and the shared conviction that cooperation offers strong answers to today’s global challenges—was tangible. The congress showcased how Austrian cooperatives are driving innovation, strengthening member engagement, and bringing cooperative principles to life in sectors ranging from finance and agriculture to digital platforms and community services.
For the IRU, it was a privilege to stand alongside its Austrian partners and international guests to celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 and reaffirm the global significance of the Raiffeisen heritage.
The IRU extends its heartfelt thanks to ÖRV and ÖGV for their exceptional hospitality and for organising an event that truly embodied the spirit of being Stronger Together. We look forward to continued cooperation and shared inspiration as we approach 2025 and beyond.
