Prof. Bu is Associate Professor of Law at the University of Sussex (UK) and an internationally recognized expert in international economic law, global corporate governance, and transnational regulation. His interdisciplinary work bridges the worlds of law, finance, ethics, and digital transformation—offering a critical lens on the evolving legal architectures of our interconnected world.

Academic Highlights

Prof. Bu’s academic journey spans leading institutions. He has held teaching and research positions at Harvard Law School, McGill University, Georgetown University, Queen’s University Belfast, and Cardiff University. He currently serves as Director of the LLM in International Financial Law at Sussex and supervises multiple PhD projects with global relevance.

His achievements include:

• • Fellow, Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS)
  • Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Advanced Research Collaborative (ARC), City University of New York
  • Panel Chair, WTO Public Forum 2017
  • Recipient of numerous research grants from the European Research Council (ERC), Newton Fund, UK FCDO, and Harvard’s IGLP
  • Extensive publications in leading journals and books with Cambridge, Oxford, Routledge, and Springer

Residency at IAS-UM6P:

During his residency at the UM6P Institute for Advanced Studies, Prof. Qingxiu Bu develops the project “Digital State Capitalism: A Game-Theoretic Perspective on Global Data Governance in Flux.” The research examines how the rapid expansion of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and data-driven economies is transforming global governance structures and reshaping geopolitical dynamics. Focusing on the rise of digital state capitalism and the growing influence of competing regulatory models—particularly between China, the United States, and the European Union—the project explores how data governance, privacy regulations, and national security concerns are redefining the global digital order.

Combining legal analysis with interdisciplinary perspectives drawn from economics, politics, and international relations, the project investigates the implications of digital infrastructures, cross-border data flows, and emerging AI regulations for global cooperation and competition. It aims to develop a theoretical and strategic framework for understanding the evolving balance between state intervention, market forces, and technological innovation in the digital economy. Through this work, the residency contributes to broader reflections on digital sovereignty, governance models, and the future of global regulatory systems in an increasingly interconnected and data-driven world.