This ebook is part of a global movement calling for a greater integration of cooperatives in the business world, in society and in academe. It originated from the formation of a research group on cooperatives in 2011 at Grenoble École de Management in France – GEMCOOP. Some of the group's members had been active members of the cooperative world whilst others were interested in the cooperative form from a research perspective. In this editorial paper, we want to provide our readers with some background features to this ebook and also wish to show what can be learnt from it so as to set a research agenda.