Francisco Beneke

Dr. Francisco Beneke is a Senior Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition in Munich, Germany, specializing in Intellectual Property and Competition Law. His research focuses on competition policy and development, innovation policy in developing countries (particularly Latin America), and digital markets in the context of economic development.

Dr. Beneke holds a Ph.D. from Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich (2014-2019), an LL.M. from University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (2012-2013), and an LL.B. from Escuela Superior de Economía y Negocios, Santa Tecla, El Salvador (2004-2009). He received the Faculty Prize of the Faculty of Law at LMU Munich in 2019 for his dissertation on market entry and competition law in Latin America.

His research interests center on the intersection of competition law, economic development, and innovation policy, with a particular focus on Latin American jurisdictions. Dr. Beneke examines how macroeconomic and social characteristics influence market entry analysis in competition law, investigates the political economy of market power, and analyzes the implications of digital technologies (including AI) for competition policy in developing economies. His work often bridges theoretical frameworks from economics with practical competition law enforcement challenges, particularly examining how corruption, political instability, and education levels affect investment rates and market dynamics.

Dr. Beneke's publications demonstrate a clear trajectory from foundational work on Latin American competition law to cutting-edge research on AI's implications for competition policy and the intersection of competition law with environmental policy. His research shows particular attention to how competition law can be adapted to serve development goals in emerging economies while maintaining effective market regulation.

• Faculty Prize of the Faculty of Law, LMU Munich (2019)
• Scholarship from the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition (2014-2017)

Dr. Beneke actively contributes to the academic community through conference presentations at venues like the ASCOLA Annual Conference and the International Seminar on Competition Law and Development. His work demonstrates strong collaboration with international scholars and institutions, particularly in Latin America. He is a member of Munich's Antitrust Law Forum and has contributed to significant edited volumes on intellectual property and competition law, reflecting his standing in the academic community.