Felipe Merlano

Felipe Merlano is a Research Fellow at the University of Surrey within the Department of Digital Economy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, focusing on digital transformation in retail, manufacturing, and gig economy contexts through interdisciplinary research bridging technology and sustainable business practices.

His educational qualifications include:

• PhD
• MRes
• MSc
• BA
• Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)

Dr. Merlano's research centers on Digital Economy, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation with specialized expertise in Circular Economy implementation, Retail Fraud Prevention, and Blockchain Applications. He investigates how digital tools like decentralized reputation systems and circularity assessment frameworks can address sustainability challenges and security vulnerabilities in omnichannel retail environments, particularly for small and medium enterprises and gig workers.

His publication trends reveal a consistent focus on developing empirically validated practical solutions: blockchain frameworks for worker autonomy in digital labor markets, consumer-driven anti-fraud interventions in fashion retail, and digital assessment tools for circular economy adoption. His work integrates Signalling Theory, UTAUT, and advanced analytics to translate theoretical models into actionable business strategies across sustainability and security domains.

No scientific awards were documented in the provided materials.

Details regarding student supervision and research grant funding remain unspecified in available sources, though his collaborative publications suggest active research partnerships.

Dr. Merlano contributes to applied research through tools like the Circularity Radar—an R-based interactive web application enabling SMEs to evaluate circular opportunities across seven dimensions: sustainable materials, operations, eco-design, product stewardship, R-terms, organizational positioning, and social aspects—demonstrating his commitment to practical, privacy-preserving business solutions.