In response to the growing legal and societal complexities brought on by digitalisation, Erasmus School of Law has established the Erasmus Center of Law and Digitalization (ECLD). This new research center aims to consolidate the School’s expertise in this dynamic field and make a meaningful impact on both academia and society. As part of Erasmus University Rotterdam’s broader commitment to understanding the societal effects of digitalization - exemplified by the SSH-Breed Sector Plan on Digitalization - ECLD will contribute to interdisciplinary research on law, digitalization, and its implications for work, prosperity, and entrepreneurship. The Co-directors of ECLD, Klaus Heine, Professor of Law and Economics, Alberto Quintavalla, Assistant Professor of Innovation of Public Law, and Martien Schaub, Associate Professor of Civil Law, address the origin and purpose of this new research center.
A natural evolution of expertise
The formation of the ECLD is a natural progression for Erasmus School of Law, which has developed significant expertise in matters related to digitalization. Heine, explains: “We realised that we should bundle all the expertise scattered across the School. By uniting under a single voice, we can enhance the impact of our research and societal activities”.
The establishment of the ECLD aligns seamlessly with the SSH-Breed Sector Plan, which focuses on the influence of digitalisation on work, prosperity, and entrepreneurship. Quintavalla emphasises the importance of this alignment, stating “Platformisation and cyber harms are key areas where the Sector Plan and ECLD intersect”.
Mission and goals
Schaub explains the mission of the ECLD and tells when she considers it to be a success: “We want to showcase our expertise both to the academic community and to society at large. In that sense, we are out to make visible impact! It is of specific interest for us to offer thorough knowledge on the legal intricacies arising from digitalization and how the legal insights connect to the broader picture”.
Addressing pressing challenges
One of the central challenges the ECLD will address is the complexity of recent legal reforms related to digitalization. The European Union has introduced several legislative instruments, including the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act, the Data Act, and the AI Act. Schaub notes: “It has become quite complex. One of the main challenges is to make sense of what these new legislative initiatives mean for governmental institutions, companies, and citizens”.
The legal landscape must also adapt to the pervasive influence of digitalisation on daily life. Schaub adds, “We must ask what role law should play in a world increasingly shaped by digital technologies”.
The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration
Given the multifaceted nature of digitalization, interdisciplinary collaboration within and outside law is essential. Quintavalla underscores this point: “Questions related to digitalization always have a broader context, involving multiple fields of law and intersecting with economic, technological, and managerial aspects”. He stresses that law must consider the reality in which digitalisation develops and functions.
To foster collaboration, the ECLD plans to organise public events that create value for private parties, publish impactful research and facilitate partnerships with academic and societal stakeholders.
Innovative research and educational integration
One of the ECLD’s goals is to bridge the gap between isolated research efforts. “It may not sound groundbreaking, but if we succeed in connecting a few of those research islands, it will already be a significant achievement”, according to Heine.
The ECLD also contributes to education at Erasmus School of Law. Several members are involved in the Master’s programme Law and Technology, and the center aims to further integrate socio-technological questions of digitalization into the broader law curriculum as well as enter a well-established network of other European universities.
Future prospects and societal impact
Looking ahead, the ECLD aims to achieve several key objectives within three years. These include securing national and international research funding, publishing in prestigious journals, and participating in international conferences. “With hard work and dedication, we are confident that we will achieve these results”, Quintavalla states.
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ECLD is part of the Sectorplan SSH-Breed, a national collaboration that strengthens interdisciplinary research and education within the field of social sciences and humanities. Within this sector plan, six Schools at Erasmus University Rotterdam focus on the societal effects of digitalisation on work, prosperity and entrepreneurship.
For how does technology influence our labour market? Does digitalisation offer new opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship? And how is prosperity distributed in an increasingly digitalised society?
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