About the Journal

Institute for Cooperatives

The Institute for Cooperatives (IfG) at the University of Münster sees itself as a science-based hub for customer- and member-oriented corporate management in the co-operative sector. The Institute's orientation as a ‘real-world laboratory’ focuses on current topics from co-operative practice and innovative approaches to implementation. We place a particular focus on research and transfer projects in the areas of innovation, transformation of the world of work, sustainable management (ESG) and customer- and member-oriented corporate governance. These projects are characterised by flexible durations and early availability of results, ensuring timely implementation and application in practice.

We invite our members and partners to become actively involved in our projects, to provide impetus and to shape the future of cooperative business together with us. We promote the transfer of knowledge and technology and contribute to the sustainable development of the cooperative movement through third-party funded projects, cross-university projects and links to the start-up community of our partner REACH EUREGIO Start-up Centre.

IfG Impulse

In order to ensure the highest possible practical relevance, company representatives who are members of the IfG are particularly welcome to contribute their knowledge and experience and to participate in scientific publications.

The journal was initiated by Prof. Dr. Thorsten Wiesel, who succeeded Prof. Dr. Theresia Theurl as Institute Director in 2023. The content of IfG Impulse focuses on the areas of innovation, transformation of the working world, sustainable management (ESG) and customer- and member-centred corporate governance and covers a broad spectrum of future-relevant topics that comprehensively describe the practice of cooperative companies. In order to ensure the highest possible practical relevance, company representatives in particular, as members of the IfG, are encouraged to contribute and participate in scientific publications. The journal is published quarterly online in open access and is also intended to make the processed knowledge more accessible visually through the increased integration of illustrations, tables and graphics.

All contributions are subject to quality control by the editorial team, consisting of editorial director Andreas Seiferth and the team of reviewers led by Ninja Schmiedgen.