Igor Ortega Sunsundegui

Igor Ortega Sunsundegui is a Researcher at LANKI, Institute of Cooperative Studies at Mondragon University, affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities and Education Sciences (HUHEZI). His work focuses on cooperativism and social innovation within the context of the renowned Mondragon Cooperative Experience.

• Doctor in cooperativism and social economy (2021)
• Thesis: "The contribution of the founders of Mondragon cooperativism to cooperative thought"
• Supervised by Dr. Leire Uriarte Zabala and Dr. Fred Freundlich

His research spans cooperative history, worker participation, industrial democracy, and territorial development, with particular attention to the Basque region of Spain. Ortega Sunsundegui examines how cooperative models contribute to economic resilience, social innovation, and regional development in contemporary economic contexts.

His recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate a focus on cooperative responsibility, worker associations, and the evolving challenges facing cooperative enterprises in the Basque Country. His work appears in journals specializing in social economy and cooperative studies, reflecting his commitment to both theoretical and practical applications of cooperative principles.

• "Por qué en Mondragón..." (2025) analyzes historical choices in cooperative development
• "Asociacionismo obrero..." (2024) reinterprets labor associations' role in cooperative origins
• "PRODUCTIVE PRAGMATISM" (2024) examines industrial democracy under neoliberal conditions

Ortega Sunsundegui's work demonstrates the practical application of cooperative principles in addressing contemporary economic challenges, particularly in the Basque region. His research contributes to understanding how cooperative models can foster economic resilience, social innovation, and sustainable territorial development in the face of global economic transformations.