Institute for Globalization and International Regulation
The Institute for Globalisation and International Regulation (IGIR) is an interdisciplinary research institute based at Maastricht University's Faculty of Law. The mission of the institute is to conduct research, to offer courses and seminars and to advise on the role of international regulation in addressing problems and challenges resulting from the process of economic globalisation.
Research
IGIR's research examines the policy, economic, and legal structures and processes through which the international economic system is regulated, focusing on the role that emerging economies such as India, China and Brazil play in the re-ordering of international regulation. To that end, IGIR collaborates with partners in emerging economies and recruits Fellows and PhDs from these regions. The IGIR research group focuses on the concept of “Trust in Trade”, which serves as an overarching focal point to address the regulation of Global Markets and the role that national, regional and international actors and institutions play in this regard.
IGIR has three research lines in International Economic Law: 1. International and European Intellectual Property Law and Knowledge Management; 2. International and European Trade and Investment Law; and 3. International and European Economic Law and Policy.
Visit IGIR's research
IGIR’s research mainly takes place
in the following pillar:
3. Globalising Markets
IGIR blogs
AI-assisted consumer: Is the proposed European Artificial Intelligence Act ready to embrace ChatGPT?
ChatGPT’s rapid virality sparks both enthusiasm for using the product and concerns about consumer protection. Protecting consumers in the age of AI was also a central topic at the AI-Assisted consumer seminar, co-organized by MaRBLe, GLaw-Net, and IGIR.
AI tools as trustworthy public interest technologies under recent EU legislative instruments
Technological developments challenge consumer protection in the digital sphere. One adaptation that could make the digital environment become safer and more trustworthy is to provide consumers with explanations of AI-based algorithm mechanisms used by intermediary platforms.
MaRBLe Seminar on AI-assisted Consumers: Shedding Light on Dark Patterns
How does EU consumer laws address dark patterns on the Internet? This topic has been part of the scholarly debate during the panel discussion “The AI-assisted consumer”, organized on 6 December 2022 in collaboration with Glaw-Net and IGIR.
Digital Vulnerability of the AI-Assisted Consumers
The widespread use of AI-assisted technologies in the digital sphere has given rise to the concept of digital vulnerability, as a contextual vulnerability experienced by internet users. This phenomenon sparks debate about whether the current legislative framework is sufficient to ensure effective...
Computer-Implemented Inventions: has the term “invention” in the EPC lost its meaning?
The European Patent Convention defines subject-matter that is not eligible for patent protection, such as methods for doing business. However, when implemented by a computer, non-eligible subject matter becomes eligible for patent protection. Is this desirable?
Agenda
| Past IGIR and IPKM events |
Anselm Kamperman Sanders
“IGIR acts as a research institute but does contract work as well, such as consultancy projects, but also invest in curriculum building in many developing countries.”
Peter van den Bossche
“Teaching is my passion. I love acquainting students with international economic law and, most of all, challenging them to think about the sometimes difficult balance between free trade and other societal values.”
Denise Prevost
“The current relevance of IGIR’s research focus is shown by the variety of projects in which IGIR engages, such as policy briefs on the implication of trade law for new initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Research
IGIR's research examines the policy, economic, and legal structures and processes through which the international economic system is regulated, focusing on the role that emerging economies such as India, China and Brazil play in the re-ordering of international regulation. To that end, IGIR collaborates with partners in emerging economies and recruits Fellows and PhDs from these regions.
The IGIR research group focuses on the concept of “Trust in Trade”, which serves as an overarching focal point to address the regulation of Global Markets and the role that national, regional and international actors and institutions play in this regard.
For more information, see our research lines
Education
IGIR contributes to the Faculty of Law’s International Trade and Investment track of the masters programme Globalisation and Law and to the Advanced Master in Intellectual Property Law and Knowledge Management (IPKM).