Максим Волков 
VI BRICS Competition Conference: A Landmark Event
The Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow, Russia hosted the VI BRICS Competition Conference between 16 and 19 September 2019. This significant gathering brought together competition authorities, academic experts, and industry representatives from the five BRICS nations to address the evolving challenges in digital market regulation.
The conference served as a crucial platform for discussing international cooperation mechanisms among antitrust agencies, particularly in addressing the complex regulatory challenges posed by digital platforms and technology giants operating across multiple jurisdictions.
Key Focus Areas and Digital Market Challenges
The conference agenda centered on several critical areas of competition policy, with particular emphasis on digital markets regulation. Participants engaged in comprehensive discussions about the unique challenges posed by digital platforms, including market concentration, data monopolization, and cross-border enforcement issues.
Professor Kathleen Van der Lende and other distinguished speakers addressed the evolving nature of competition in digital ecosystems, highlighting how traditional antitrust frameworks require adaptation to effectively regulate technology companies that operate on a global scale.
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International Cooperation Framework
One of the primary outcomes of the conference was the strengthening of cooperation mechanisms between BRICS competition authorities. The participating agencies recognized the need for coordinated approaches in investigating and addressing anticompetitive practices by multinational technology companies.
The discussions revealed common challenges faced by all BRICS nations in regulating digital markets, including jurisdictional complexities, evidence gathering across borders, and the need for synchronized enforcement actions against global tech giants.
Regulatory Approaches and Best Practices
Throughout the four-day event, participants shared best practices and discussed various regulatory approaches adopted by different jurisdictions. The conference featured case studies of significant antitrust investigations and enforcement actions taken by BRICS competition authorities against major technology companies.
Special attention was given to merger control in digital markets, abuse of dominance cases involving digital platforms, and the development of sector-specific regulations for technology companies. The discussions highlighted the importance of developing specialized expertise within competition authorities to effectively address digital market issues.
Academic and Industry Perspectives
The conference brought together not only regulators but also leading academics and industry representatives, creating a comprehensive dialogue about the future of competition policy in digital markets. Academic institutions, particularly HSE as the host university, contributed valuable research insights and theoretical frameworks for understanding digital market dynamics.
Industry representatives provided practical perspectives on how competition regulations impact innovation, market entry, and consumer welfare in digital ecosystems. These multi-stakeholder discussions proved essential for developing balanced regulatory approaches that protect competition while fostering innovation.
Future Implications and Outcomes
The VI BRICS Competition Conference established important precedents for future cooperation among emerging economy competition authorities. The agreements and understandings reached during the conference have influenced subsequent enforcement actions and policy developments across BRICS nations.
The conference outcomes have contributed to the development of more sophisticated approaches to digital market regulation, with participating authorities implementing enhanced cooperation protocols and sharing mechanisms for cross-border competition cases.
The event marked a significant milestone in international competition policy cooperation, demonstrating how emerging economies can collaborate effectively to address the challenges posed by global technology companies and ensure competitive digital markets that benefit consumers and promote innovation.
