Fundação Getulio Vargas’ Rio de Janeiro Law School recently hosted competition officials and experts from multiple jurisdictions at the BRICS+ Digital Competition Forum. The event was organized by FGV’s Center for Technology and Society in collaboration with the BRICS Competition Center and the Brazilian Antitrust Regulatory Agency (CADE).

The meeting, held in late November, featured Professor Luca Belli, the coordinator of FGV’s Center for Technology and Society; Professor Patricia Pinheiro Sampaio of FGV’s Center for Research in Law and Economics (CPDE); and Professor Nicolo Zingales, who lectures at the Center for Technology and Society and coordinates FGV’s Center for E-Commerce Studies.

On the first day, Zingales presented a report produced jointly with the competition authorities of the BRICS countries, which analyzes digital markets. This report was discussed together with a report produced as part of the BRICS Competition Center’s EcoAntitrust Project. On the second day, Zingales presented and moderated a discussion to mark the launch of a book titled “Applying Antitrust Law to Digital Ecosystems: Challenges and Proposal,” organized by himself together with Professor Paula Farani of the Brazilian Institute for Education, Development and Research (IDP).

“The BRICS+ Digital Competition Forum was created as an extension of the BRICS countries’ Digital Working Group, in order to discuss issues with public officials, academics and representatives of civil society from BRICS candidate countries or aspiring candidates. It was an honor to offer a platform for such high-quality debate and to be able to help the group build paths for cooperation and strengthening of competition law in the digital age. The impact was extremely positive, for the Digital Working Group, the international guests and the school itself, which led this initiative of great importance for affirming a common vision for competition law in the digital age,” said Zingales.

Professor Patrícia Pinheiro Sampaio said, “The event was a unique opportunity to share experiences on how authorities in different countries are dealing with the challenge of deciding on competition issues involving digital platforms. It was also very interesting to find out the results of the research coordinated by Professor Nicolo Zingales, comparing the extent and limits of the powers of these authorities in light of respective legislation.”

Professor Luca Belli said, “The BRICS+ Digital Competition Forum was an example of excellence and a huge success for the FGV Center for Technology and Society and FGV Rio de Janeiro Law School. It is rare to have an initiative capable of combining academic debate at such a high level with the participation of key stakeholders from the world’s largest emerging economies. This is an innovative format that we need to cultivate.”

You can find photos and the official video of the event here.