Our goal is to make the economy sustainable so that it can meet the needs of all people within ecological limits. We are working on transformative concepts that bring about systemic change. Our name, NELA. Next Economy Lab, reflects our approach: we focus on action and learning through experimentation. Our work focuses on people who want to make a difference – in trade unions, companies and local communities. This is where we come in and offer our support.

We are guided by Kate Raworth’s concept of the doughnut economy.

The cornerstones of this Next Economy
Growth independence, sufficiency, cooperation and democracy in action

1. We bring economic ideas into the world that are based on independence from growth.
2. We apply sufficiency wherever concrete strategies for implementing a Next Economy are concerned.
3. In our external work, we are committed to cooperative business practices. This means that all parties involved pull together and share knowledge and resources. Internally, we foster cooperation between employees and cooperation partners by supporting each other in order to jointly shape a strong Next Economy.
4. In our work, we prioritise approaches that take into account democracy in practice in the economy as well as the participation and co-determination of employees and residents. We also implement democratic principles internally in the association’s structures and collegial management.

Fears and conflicts on the path to a Next Economy arise ‘on the ground’ – that is, where people meet, where they work, live or engage in politics. ‘On the ground’ is where people experience change in concrete terms, but also where they can shape it.

1. We show what a Next Economy could look like in practice
2. We strengthen transformation skills through transformative education
3. We form new alliances

We are convinced that people can only develop their full potential if they pursue meaningful work that motivates them intrinsically. NELA sees itself as a collegial circle organisation in which there are different circles with clear responsibilities and decision-making powers. We are guided by the principles of collegial leadership according to Bernd Österreich and Claudia Schröder: Collegial leadership is leadership work that is dynamically and decentralisedly distributed among many colleagues instead of centralised leadership by a few exclusive managers.

Our financing
NELA. Next Economy Lab is largely financed by grants that we receive through our project work. We are grateful for the support of foundations and public funds, which enable us to work towards a sustainable economy.

We also offer consulting services, workshops and process support. Here we work together with various companies, administrations, local political actors and civil society.

We also welcome donations. If you would like to support our work, you can use the following account details to make a transfer (please provide your contact details if you would like a donation receipt!):

Account holder: NELA e.V.
IBAN: DE49 4306 0967 4123 0734 00
BIC: GENODEM1GLS
Reference: Donation