Prof Calzada contributed to a Remarkable Policy Report on ‘Data Cooperatives’ by Liberty Project and Decentralization Research Centre in North America

Prof. Igor Calzada is pleased to share his contribution to the preliminary policy report titled “How Can Data Cooperatives Help Build a Fair Data Economy?” This effort reflects a critical intersection of his academic expertise and ongoing research on Data Cooperatives, addressing the pressing need for equitable and inclusive data practices globally.

This initiative, launched by the Decentralization Research Center in collaboration with Sarah Nicole, Jeb Bell, Project Liberty, Connor Spelliscy, and Samuel Vance-Law, underscores the importance of advancing action research and policy debates across diverse geographies—both in the Global North and the Global South.

Prof. Calzada’s journey toward exploring pathways for Data Cooperatives has been a deeply enriching one, shaped by pivotal moments such as the blockchain conferences at Stanford University in August 2022 and August 2023, during his tenure as a US-UK Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence. These engagements fueled insightful discussions and helped lay the groundwork for actionable research on Data Cooperatives as a tool for fostering data sovereignty.

He is particularly honored that his work published in the Smart Cities MDPI journal—“Data Co-Operatives through Data Sovereignty” (2021, 4, 1158-1172)—has been referenced in this report. This article, which has garnered over 12,000 views and 29 citations to date, reflects his commitment to advancing scholarly discourse on how data cooperatives can empower individuals and communities.

For those interested in delving deeper into this topic, he highly recommends accessing the article here: Open Access Link. You can also explore this related reading on cooperative approaches in the data economy: Recommended Reading.

As we move forward, 2025 presents an extraordinary opportunity to amplify these discussions, with the United Nations General Assembly designating it as the International Year of Cooperatives. Prof. Calzada looks forward to collaborating with experts and practitioners during his visit to Washington, D.C., in early April to further the impact of this preliminary research and bring its transformative potential into focus.

Let’s continue to work together to shape a data economy that prioritizes fairness, inclusion, and sovereignty for all.

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