The Centre for Competition Law and Economics at Stellenbosch University collaborates with the Brussels Centre for Competition Policy at Vrije Universiteit Brussel on research examining competition policy in digital markets. This partnership combines South African and European academic expertise to address regulatory challenges posed by digital platforms, drawing on both legal and economic analysis to inform policy development.
The centres are co-hosting the Workshop on Data-Related Remedies in Digital Platform Markets on 14 November 2025 in Stellenbosch. The workshop brings together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to examine three key areas: digital platform neutrality and competition issues, data-focused regulation and its impact on platform markets, and the effectiveness of structural remedies such as platform break-ups. Professor Ioannis Lianos (University College London) will deliver the keynote address. Selected papers will be considered for publication in a special issue of the Journal of Competition Law & Economics.
Our joint research agenda includes ongoing work on algorithmic competition, data portability as a competitive remedy, and comparative approaches to digital market regulation across different jurisdictions. The collaboration encompasses co-authored publications, joint grant applications, shared doctoral supervision, and regular faculty exchange programs that facilitate knowledge transfer between both institutions.