The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) has adopted a Model Law that is intended to standardize and facilitate the formation and performance of automated contracts online. As a member of the E-Commerce Working Group, Jörg Hoffmann, a researcher at the Institute, participated in several discussion rounds on the drafting of the Model Law.

Patents are designed to incentivize innovation, but pharmaceutical firms often extend market exclusivity with secondary patents on marginally beneficial improvements. Such behaviors evoke discussions about raising patentability standards. Lucy Xiaolu Wang and Dennis Byrski have now received the Program Chair Award from the American Society of Health Economists (ASHEcon) for a new study on this topic.

As part of the project Data Governance in Emerging Economies to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, a second report has now been presented – this a joint effort with researchers from India. The focus here is on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which aims to ensure good health and well-being for all.