How can fraternity become a real force in economic life, shaping policies, enterprises, communities and personal choices? The EoF Summer School 2026 brings together young researchers, entrepreneurs, and changemakers to explore this question in depth, combining solid reflection, lived experience and collaborative work.
Hosted in Germany for the first time, the program offers a unique space to study, dialogue and experiment around Fraternity, the Economy of Francesco and the friend institutions that will take part in this program.
This summer school explores fraternity as both a generative force already present within economic life and a horizon that can guide its renewal. While often treated as an inspirational moral principle, fraternity is also a lived economic reality: it animates cooperation in workplaces, sustains trust in markets, and nurtures innovation through relationships of reciprocity and openness. Yet, because it often operates quietly, like the mycelium beneath a forest floor, fraternity is frequently overlooked and rarely measured.
Drawing on theological and philosophical traditions, including the Franciscan heritage and Catholic Social Teaching, alongside contemporary economic theory, organizational studies, and behavioral sciences, this program invites participants to broaden how they see and study economic relationships. We will investigate fraternity as a relational good that already shapes institutions and enterprises, and we will examine emerging empirical methods capable of detecting, quantifying, and comparing fraternal dynamics within and across economies.
Through lectures, workshops, field encounters, and collaborative research labs, participants will learn to recognize where fraternity is already flourishing, where it is fragile, and how it might be strengthened. Emphasis will be placed on relational indicators, inclusive governance, prosocial entrepreneurship, and measurement tools that make visible what is often felt but not counted.
Open to scholars, students, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and practitioners, the program offers a space to refine our vision and methods, equipping participants not only to promote fraternity in economic and business life, but to perceive and measure the fraternity that quietly sustains it today.
PROGRAM
Main components
- Academic lectures and plenary sessions
- Participant presentations and poster sessions
- Fraternity Challenge in working groups
- Moments of spiritual reflection
- Encounters with local institutions and initiatives
- Shared meals, informal exchange, and community-building moments
- Final synthesis and future-oriented discussion
Saturday, 29 August (Osnabrück)
Arrival
Sunday, 30 August (Innovatorium, Osnabrück)
Understanding Fraternity: From Vision to Evidence
Opening of the International Summer School by introducing the concept of fraternity through the Economy of Francesco and the EoF World Fraternity Report.
Official opening
Spiritual Reflection: Was Saint Francis innovative? (Vicar General Auxiliary Bishop Johannes Wübbe, Diocese of Osnabrück)
The EoF World Fraternity Report: Concepts, Indicators and Global Evidence (Paolo Santori)
Empirical approach to Fraternity (Tracey Freiberg and Paolo Santori)
In my Father‘s house are many rooms (Carolin Lauhoff, Managing Director of Stephanswerk Osnabrück)
The Social Dimension of Sustainability (Maren Wilmes, Managing Director of the Caritasverband city and district Osnabrück)
Dinner in Osnabrück
Monday, 31 August (Innovatorium, Osnabrück)
Fraternity, Enterprise and Organization
Dedicated to knowing programs and projects from the region, learning from their lessons, histories, and their approach to the new realities and the international conditions.
Spiritual reflection
AI in Agriculture and Food Industry – A Contribution to the Preservation of Creation? (Henning Müller, German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence – DFKI and Agrotech Valley Forum)
The Rise of AI and Its Impact on an Internationally Active Global Market Leader (Norbert Gemmeke, Harting Technology Group)
The Lok-Viertel as a Model Example of Successful Urban Development in the 21st Century (Felix Osterheider, Aloys & Brigitte Coppenrath Foundation)
Fraternity Challenge: From theory to practice – Workshop
Poster session
Dinner (Katharina Pötter, Mayor of the City of Osnabrück and Stephan Muhle, former State Secretary)
Tuesday, 1 September (Innovatorium, Osnabrück)
The Roots of Fraternity and Today’s Challenges
Day to explore fraternity through its historical, theological, and economic dimensions, with a particular focus on the Franciscan tradition and Catholic Social Thought as transversal lines in The Economy of Francesco.
Spiritual reflection
Fraternity: History, Theology and Economics (Luigino Bruni)
Fraternity in the Franciscan Tradition and Catholic Social Thought (Luigino Bruni)
Fraternity Challenge: From theory to practice – Workshop
Poster session and peer dialogue
Visit and Dinner in Osnabrück
Wednesday, 2 September (Draiflessen, Mettingen)
Fraternity, Environment and Enterprise
Day to explore how fraternity can shape responsible entrepreneurship, ecological stewardship, and human relationships.
Spiritual reflection
Welcome to Draiflessen
Fraternity: Moving Between Theory and Practice (Helen Alford)
Fraternity Challenge: From theory to practice – Proposal presentations
Introduction and interactive visit to the city of Mettingen
Dinner and informal exchange in Draiflessen
Thursday, 3 September (Innovatorium, Osnabrück)
Wrap-up and Departure
The final day is dedicated to reflection, synthesis, and looking ahead. To share key insights and to celebrate the completion of the EoF International Summer School.
Spiritual reflection
Wrap-up session and diplomas
Departures
A detailed program has been shared with the participants.
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In collaboration with
APPLICATIONS PROCESS
The Summer School is designed for:
- Members of the EoF Community, academics, entrepreneurs and changemakers, from all over the world who would like to live this experience.
- Professionals interested in the Economy of Francesco and the topics to be addressed who wish to deepen the intellectual and practical roots of their commitment.
We welcome applications from all regions of the world. The working language will be English.
Given the limited number of available places, participation in the summer school requires submitting an application by completing a form.
A committee will review all applications, taking into account criteria such as age, gender, geographic origin, academic/professional background, and motivation.
Once you receive the acceptance confirmation email, you will be able to register and proceed with payment to complete your enrollment.
Deadline: 31st of May 2026
June 19 – The outcomes of the participation requests have been sent to all applicants. If you have not received an email, please write to: [email protected].
Participation Fees
Participation fees are structured according to the World Bank’s country income classification, updated annually. This approach is intended to promote broad and inclusive participation from around the world, taking into account different economic contexts.
IMPORTANT: To check your country’s classification, please refer to the official World Bank list.
The following categories are used:
- €390 (Upper-middle-income countries and High-income countries)
- €300 (Low-income countries and Lower-middle-income countries)
SCHOLARSHIPS
June 19 – The outcomes of the scholarship requests have been sent to all applicants.
If you have not received an email, please write to: [email protected].
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A limited number of scholarships will be available to support participation in the EoF International Summer School 2026. The aim of this support is to make the programme accessible to a diverse group of young participants, especially those who show strong motivation and relevance to the themes of the Summer School but who may face financial barriers to attending.
Two types of scholarship support will be offered:
- participation fee support, which covers the participation fee
- partial travel support, which contributes to travel expenses
Applicants may request one form of support, depending on their circumstances and the available budget. All scholarship requests will be reviewed by the organizing team on the basis of financial need, motivation, relevance to the Summer School, and the contribution each applicant can bring to the diversity and quality of the group.
To proceed with your request, please download the PDF file below and read the instructions carefully. Then access the scholarship application form using the link provided in the document.
Visa support
For those participants that need to apply for a visa to participate in the EoF Summer School 2026 we recommend starting the visa application as soon as possible. The EoF Foundation is not responsible for refusals or delays in visa processes.
It is the responsibility of the participant to present the visa application in time and with the required documents.
The EoF Foundation can support with Letters of Participation, please read the information here:
After carefully reading the visa support that can be offered by the EoF Foundation please contact the email [email protected]
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For inquiries, contact: [email protected]
