Emilia-Romagna is a region in Northern Italy, situated just below the foothills of the Italian Alps. It is one of the richest and most developed regions in Europe, with one of the highest GDP’s of all Italian regions. The outside world knows the region as the home of high end car makers such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Ducati. Yet what is truly fascinating about Emilia-Romagna is that whilst being one of the most economically successful regions in Europe, it is also one of the most cooperative regions in the world. With a population of nearly 4.5 million, nearly 2 of every 3 citizens are members of a cooperative. Cooperatives represent around 30% of the region’s GDP, making it a fantastic example of a true cooperative economy.