More than 500 researchers, public officials, managers of public enterprises, cooperatives, and social economy organizations from around thirty countries will gather in Montreal from 5 to 8 October for the 35th CIRIEC International Congress, one of the world’s leading events dedicated to the public, social, and cooperative economy. The event will be held at the Mont-Royal Centre under the theme “Caring for the World: The Essential Contribution of the Social Economy and Public Enterprises.”
Organized by CIRIEC and its Canadian section, the Congress aims to examine how public enterprises and social economy organizations can respond to today’s major challenges, from the ecological transition to social cohesion and democratic governance. This will be the second international congress organized by CIRIEC in Montreal, following the highly successful edition held in 2000.
A Programme Focused on Major Transitions
The programme will address some of the most relevant and pressing issues facing governments, researchers, representatives of the social economy, and other civil society organizations. Key thematic areas include:
• The resilience of public and social structures in the face of multiple crises.
• The socio-ecological transition and the circular economy.
• Corporate sustainability and ESG criteria.
• Solidarity finance and alternative economic models.
• Housing, habitat, and living environments.
• The role of public enterprises in energy, transport, and infrastructure.
• Reducing inequalities, care, and feminist perspectives.
• Citizen participation and democratic governance.
• Digital transformation and the responsible development of artificial intelligence.
• Culture, work, and education as drivers of sustainable development.
In keeping with the mission of CIRIEC congresses, the objective is to foster dialogue between academics and practitioners, as well as between international and local experiences, in order to identify innovative solutions to current challenges.
First Keynote Speaker Confirmed: Julia Cagé
Among the first confirmed speakers is French economist Julia Cagé, Professor of Economics at Sciences Po Paris, where she directs the Media Plurality Research Policy Network and the Interdisciplinary Laboratory for the Evaluation of Public Policies (LIEPP). Julia Cagé will deliver one of the Congress’s keynote addresses on 8 October, offering insights into democratic challenges in a context of growing inequality and political and economic uncertainty.
Montreal, an International Meeting Point
The event will take place at the Centre Mont-Royal, a venue equipped to host major international congresses. With this edition, Montreal once again becomes the host city of a CIRIEC International Congress, reinforcing its position as one of the leading international hubs for reflection on economic models focused on the public interest, sustainability, and collective well-being.
EARLY BIRD UNTIL 30 JUNE 2026
EVENT WEBSITE : https://www.ciriec.ca/en/congres2026
INFO & REGISTRATION HERE
