Vittorio Solina is a Researcher at the Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering (DIMEG) of the University of Calabria, specializing in industrial systems simulation and digital twin technologies. His work spans Industry 4.0/5.0 applications, supply chain optimization, and human-robot collaboration. Affiliation: University of Calabria Academic Role: Researcher (Legge 240/10) Research Focus: Digital twins, simulation modeling, sustainable manufacturing His research emphasizes advanced simulation tools for decision support, including applications in Industry 4.0 , Smart Manufacturing , and Agri-Food Supply Chains . Recent work explores adaptive simulation optimization for Industry 5.0 and 5G-enabled robotics. Key publication trends include: (1) Digital twin integration for supply chain resilience (2024-2025), (2) Simulation automation methodologies (2025), and (3) Human-robot collaboration frameworks (2024).
Dr. Md Manjurul Ahsan serves as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering at the University of Oklahoma, where he develops AI-driven solutions for healthcare diagnostics and advanced manufacturing optimization. His work bridges theoretical AI advancements with practical industrial and medical applications. Education: Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Oklahoma M.S. in Industrial Engineering, Lamar University B.S. in Industrial and Production Engineering, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Research Focus: Dr. Ahsan specializes in Artificial Intelligence with technical depth in Machine Learning , Deep Learning , and Computer Vision to solve critical challenges in healthcare diagnostics and additive manufacturing . His research emphasizes Explainable AI to enhance model trustworthiness and deployment efficiency across Cyber-Physical-Social Systems, with significant contributions to Aerospace and Defense applications. Publication Trends: Recent work (2023-2025) reveals a strategic expansion from core manufacturing applications into medical AI (diffusion models for diagnostics), cultural preservation (NLP for Dravidian languages), and geopolitical AI analysis. His publications consistently address data imbalance challenges while advancing digital twin integration in quality control systems. Scientific Recognition: GCOE Dissertation Excellence Award (2023) International Student Scholarship (2022) Outstanding Academic Achievement in Engineering (2022) IEEE IEMCON Best Paper Award (2020) Netti Vincent Boggs Engineering Excellence Award (2020) Research Leadership: As director of the Sooner Additive Manufacturing Laboratory , Dr. Ahsan leads cross-disciplinary teams developing real-time monitoring systems using FARO arms and CMM metrology. His postdoctoral work at Northwestern University (2023-2024) advanced AI deployment frameworks, resulting in 60+ peer-reviewed publications with multiple papers ranking in engineering's top 1% for citations.
Abbas Milani is a tenured Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus, where he holds the Tier 1 Principal's Research Chair in Sustainable & Smart Manufacturing and serves as Director of the Materials and Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI). He also serves as Technical Director of the Composites Research Network (CRN), Lead of the Canadian-International Biocomposites Research Network, and leads multiple major initiatives including the UBC-Pacific Economic Development Canada-Advancing Circular Economy (ACE) program and the UBC-NRC IRAP National Circular Economy CtO Program. Dr. Milani's primary research focuses on advanced modeling, simulation, and multi-criteria design optimization of composite and biocomposite materials, structures, and manufacturing processes. His expertise spans Textile Composites/Biocomposites, Materials Constitutive Relations, Finite Element Modeling, Robust Inverse Methods, Material Selection for End-of-Life Design Strategies, Multiple Criteria Decision Making, and Industry 5.0 applications. His interdisciplinary research bridges mechanical engineering, sustainable materials science, and smart manufacturing technologies. Analysis of his recent publication record reveals a strong emphasis on sustainable materials development, with particular focus on biocomposites, life cycle assessment methodologies, and optimization of manufacturing processes. His work integrates computational modeling with experimental validation across diverse application areas including medical devices, sustainable packaging, and circular economy strategies. The publications demonstrate increasing integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches with traditional engineering methods. 2015 UBC Okanagan Researcher of the Year Award Killam Faculty Research Award (2016) Inducted into Royal Society of Canada - College of New Scholars (2020) Gold Medal Service Contribution Award by Academics World Reviewer Contribution Award by ASM International Multiple teaching excellence awards from UBC Dr. Milani has successfully mentored over 100 students and postdoctoral fellows who have secured positions in both industry and academia. His research program has been supported by more than $15 million in funding from government and industrial organizations. He leads the NSERC CREATE in Immersive Technologies (CITech) program and co-leads the Advanced Materials and Fabrication Core Competency within the Survive and Thrive Applied Research (STAR) program, demonstrating his commitment to training the next generation of engineers and advancing applied research.
Laurent DUPONT is a Research Engineer and Co-coordinator of the IUVTT Master’s program at ENSGSI (École Nationale Supérieure de Géologie et de Sciences Industrielles), part of the Groupe INP in Nancy, France. He also serves as Scientific Manager of the Lorraine Fab Living Lab. His work focuses on user-driven innovation, smart and sustainable territories, collaborative engineering, and immersive environments. He holds a PhD in Industrial Systems Engineering from INPL (2009), a DEA (2004), and a degree in Industrial Systems Engineering (2003) from ENSGSI. Research interests include innovation lab strategies, open innovation spaces, territorial resilience, and digital twin applications in manufacturing. He leads projects like INEDIT, exploring co-design frameworks and circular economy solutions. His articles highlight trends in collaborative innovation networks, systemic impact mapping, and the integration of extended reality in industrial contexts. Key contributions include frameworks for evaluating territorial resilience and tools for monitoring innovation lab networks. He has been involved in initiatives such as the DHDA Project for resilience assessment and the Smagrinet project on smart grid training. His work bridges academia and practice through participatory methods and cross-sector collaborations. Current projects emphasize Industry 5.0, open manufacturing, and community-driven innovation.
Vienna University of Economics and BusinessAustria
Gerald Reiner serves as Head of the Institute for Production Management at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU), within the Department of Information Systems and Operations Management. He holds a Magister Degree, doctorate, and Habilitation in Business Administration from WU. His academic career includes positions as full professor in Production Management and Logistics at the University of Neuchatel (Switzerland, 2007-2014) and Universitaet Klagenfurt (Austria, 2014-2018), where he also served as head of the department of Operations, Energy, and Environmental Management. Dr. Reiner has held visiting professorships at Aston Business School (UK), HEC Lausanne (Switzerland), University of Bergamo, and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan (Italy). His research spans several critical areas including Industry 4.0 implementation, integrated capacity and inventory management, humanitarian logistics operations, circular supply chains, and operations management for base of the pyramid contexts. His work particularly focuses on practical applications addressing food waste reduction, sustainable manufacturing, and blockchain technology in supply chains. His publication portfolio demonstrates a clear evolution toward digital transformation in operations, with recent focus on hydrogen production systems, AI integration in manufacturing, and blockchain applications for food supply chain transparency. The research shows increasing emphasis on sustainability integration within traditional operations management frameworks, particularly addressing European manufacturing challenges and food system inefficiencies. Publication Excellence Award 2021 (2023) Researcher of the month (January 2023) Highly Commended paper in the 2017 Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence ISIR Service Award (2014) Emerald Outstanding Paper Award (2013) Dr. Reiner coordinates multiple significant international research projects including EU-project 'Keeping Jobs in EU', EU/Ecsel-project 'Power Semiconductor and Electronics Manufacturing 4.0', 'Integrated Development 4.0', and 'Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing leading to Sustainability and Industry 5.0'. His current projects focus on FOODIS (cross-border ecosystem for innovation in food supply chains), Circular Design implementation, and blockchain applications for banana supply chains. He actively supervises research teams working on food waste reduction, sustainable packaging systems, and AI applications in operations management.
Sabine Waschull is an Assistant Professor of Operations Management at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Groningen. She holds a MSc and PhD in Operations Management from the same institution. Her research focuses on human-centric design in Industry 4.0/5.0 contexts, including AI integration, digitalization, and work system evaluation. She is a member of the IFIP WG 5.7 working group on Production Management Systems. Her teaching includes courses such as Smart Industry Operations, Technology-Enabled Innovation, and Operations Strategy & Technology across bachelor and master programs. Her work emphasizes human-AI synergies and co-creation methodologies in manufacturing systems. Recent research trends highlight AI-driven enterprise interoperability, socio-technical evaluation of manufacturing systems, and human-centric design of augmented reality tools. Collaborations with co-authors like Christos Emmanouilidis and Joost Bokhorst explore AI ethics, digital twin integration, and assembly process optimization.
Dr. Zhibao Mian is a Lecturer in the School of Computer Science at the University of Hull, UK, and previously held an Associate Professor position at Northwest Normal University. He specializes in trustworthy AI, machine learning, and intelligent maintenance systems. His research integrates AI with IoT, blockchain, and digital twins in Industry 4.0/5.0 contexts. He leads projects on predictive maintenance for offshore wind turbines and AI-driven sustainable energy solutions. Dr. Mian holds a PhD from the University of Hull and an MSc from the University of Nottingham. Research interests include AI ethics, model-based safety analysis, and RCM. He has secured grants such as the CPHC-funded study on AI in software education and oversees multiple PhD scholarships. Notable roles include Editorial Board member of the American Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Reviewer for high-impact journals/conferences like JSS and IEEE. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and received the Royal Academy of Engineering's 2024 Exceptional Talent designation. Recent publications (2023-2025) focus on ordinal networks, outlier detection, Belt and Road trade analysis, and carbon emissions modeling. He actively advises PhD students on topics like UAV-based anomaly detection and predictive maintenance frameworks.
Elias G. Carayannis is a Full Professor of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at the George Washington University School of Business (GWSB), Washington, D.C. He serves as Director of Research on Science, Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at the European Union Research Center (EURC) and co-founder/co-director of the Global and Entrepreneurial Finance Research Institute (GEFRI). His academic journey includes a B.S.C.E.E. from the National Technical University of Athens (1985), M.B.A. and Ph.D. in Management of Technology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1990, 1994). His research focuses on strategic Government-University-Industry partnerships, technology transfer/commercialization, international science policy, and regional economic development. He pioneered the Quintuple Innovation Helix framework, integrating Government, University, Industry, Civil Society, and Environment into innovation ecosystems. Carayannis has authored over 100 academic papers and 16 books with Springer, Edward Elgar, and others, and serves as editor-in-chief for multiple journals and book series. Professionally, he advises global entities like the World Bank, European Commission, and U.S. agencies on innovation and technology strategies. He is fluent in English, French, German, and Greek, with Spanish proficiency. His work emphasizes AI-driven innovation, Industry 5.0/Society 5.0 transitions, and fusion energy policy. He delivers keynote speeches globally on innovation frameworks and sustainable development. Key institutions affiliated include GWSB, EURC, GEFRI, and visiting roles at Jönköping School of Entrepreneurship (Sweden) and Grenoble Ecole de Management (France). His contributions span policy design, entrepreneurship ecosystems, and interdisciplinary approaches to global challenges like climate change and digital transformation.
Dr Elies Dekoninck is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath, where she has been employed since 2004. She holds a PhD in Eco-innovation from an unspecified institution, completed in 2003 following industrial experience as a Design Strategy consultant. Her academic leadership includes developing and directing the MEng in Integrated Design Engineering (IDE), which integrates mechanical, electronic, and software engineering through studio-based projects. Research Focus: Her interdisciplinary research spans: Design creativity methodologies and innovation processes User-centered eco-design and sustainable product development Spatial augmented reality applications in co-creative design Human-robot collaboration frameworks for Industry 5.0 Inclusive design principles for neurodivergent populations Research Projects & Grants: Principal Investigator for Horizon 2020 SPARK project on spatial augmented reality in design sessions Led EU project G.EN.ESI on eco-innovation tools and AHRC-funded game-design project resulting in commercial product 'Beasts of Balance' Managed 5 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) with industry partners Secured funding from Arts and Humanities Research Council, EU Horizon 2020, and Designability Academic Contributions: Supervised multiple PhD students in areas including virtual design teams and eco-design Authored 114+ research outputs including journal articles, conference papers, and patents Associated with research centers: The Foundry (Digital Manufacturing & Design), IAAPS (Augmented Human), Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems, and Centre for Regenerative Design
Rui Pedro Figueiredo Marques is a Professor at the Higher Institute of Accounting and Administration, University of Aveiro, where he teaches Information Systems across technical, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs. He serves as course director for the Professional Higher Technical Course in Organizational Informatics and Communication and holds a board position at the Institute of Accounting and Administration, University of Aveiro. As a Full Researcher at GOVCOPP's Competitiveness, Innovation and Sustainability (CIS) group, his work focuses on Information Systems for Business, with recent emphasis on AI, Blockchain, and Business Intelligence applications in auditing and accounting contexts. Marques' academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Computer Science (2014, Universities of Minho/Aveiro/Porto), a Master's degree (2008), and a Bachelor's in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering (2005, University of Aveiro). He has authored/co-authored over 50 publications, including journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters on topics ranging from ERP systems in auditing to digital transformation in low-density territories. He is editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Business Innovation and actively participates in funded research projects addressing governance, competitiveness, and public policies. His research explores intersections between technology and business practices, with notable contributions to AI in auditing, blockchain's role in financial transparency, and sustainable development frameworks for social economy entities. Notable projects include evaluations of ERP systems' impact on internal audit maturity and frameworks promoting accountability in private social solidarity institutions. Marques' work frequently emphasizes practical applications of technology in audit processes, education, and public sector modernization. He collaborates with institutions like the Portuguese Social Solidarity Sector and has advised on digital transformation strategies for tourism and hospitality industries.
Emilia Vann Yaroson is a Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management at the Sheffield University Management School (The University of Sheffield). She holds a PhD in Operations and Information Management from the University of Bradford, an MSc in Business and Financial Economics from the University of Greenwich, and a PgCHE (Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education). Her research focuses on leveraging emerging technologies (AI, blockchain, cloud computing, digital twins) to enhance supply chain resilience and sustainability, particularly aligned with UN SDGs related to healthcare access, environmental protection, and poverty reduction. Research Interests Pharmaceutical supply chains and resilience strategies Circular economy integration in supply chains Impact of Industry 4.0/5.0 technologies on sustainable operations Healthcare operations and quality improvement Artificial intelligence-driven decision-making in supply chains Teaching She teaches operations management, supply chain analytics, and related modules across undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including executive education. Her teaching aligns with the school’s Triple Crown accreditation, positioning it among global elite management schools. Research Group She is part of the Operations Management and Decision Sciences group, contributing to interdisciplinary projects on supply chain innovation and sustainability. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks (e.g., Complex Adaptive Systems) with practical applications in healthcare and manufacturing sectors.
Valeriy Vyatkin is a Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Aalto University. His research focuses on advancing industrial automation, control systems, and their integration with emerging technologies like machine learning and digital twins. He specializes in standards such as IEC 61499, addressing interoperability, formal verification, and performance optimization in distributed automation systems. Key research interests include: Physics-informed machine learning for industrial processes (e.g., steel rolling, reservoir engineering) Formal methods for control system validation and safety-critical applications Development of adaptive automation frameworks for Industry 5.0 challenges, including human-robot collaboration and energy systems Interoperability between legacy and modern industrial standards (OPAS, OPC UA) Recent work emphasizes real-time simulation, FPGA-based control prototyping, and AI-driven solutions for energy efficiency and sustainability in manufacturing, horticulture, and process industries. Publications span topics like robotic walker design, probabilistic model checking, and decentralized learning management systems. He collaborates on EU and industry-funded projects, focusing on digital twin implementation, edge computing, and virtual commissioning. His team develops tools for automated code generation, system migration, and anomaly detection in complex industrial settings.
Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUTFinland
Lea Hannola is a researcher at the LUT School of Engineering Sciences (Lappeenranta–Lahti University of Technology LUT) focusing on digital twins, sustainable manufacturing, and Industry 5.0. Her work bridges technological innovation with eco-conscious business practices. Academic Rank: Researcher Contact: Lea.Hannola@lut.fi Hannola's research emphasizes digital twin applications for sustainability, including circular manufacturing, smart energy systems, and human-centric industrial design. She explores competencies required for Industry 5.0 adoption, workforce empowerment through digital tools, and integration of environmental and data-driven strategies in manufacturing. Her publications span topics like smart building management , quantum computing challenges , and supply chain sustainability , with a recurring focus on simulation, interoperability, and lifecycle value creation. Key trends include AI-driven sustainability, green HRM, and digital ecosystems. As a scholar, Hannola contributes to advancing digitally extended product-service systems and addressing sociotechnical challenges in industrial digitalization. Her work impacts manufacturing competitiveness, energy efficiency, and organizational transformation.
Gurjot Singh is a Research Fellow at the Department of Computer and Information Science (IDA) at Linköping University, Sweden. His research focuses on cybersecurity in aviation systems, next-generation communication networks, and industrial IoT security. He collaborates with prominent researchers like Andrei Gurtov and Suleman Khan, contributing to projects such as SEC-AIRSPACE and Post Quantum Secure Handover Mechanisms. His work spans vulnerability assessments, secure protocol design, and post-quantum cryptography applications. Education details are not explicitly stated, but his research aligns with advanced cybersecurity and network engineering domains. Key research interests include aviation cyber risk assessment, secure data link communications, and privacy-preserving authentication mechanisms for IoT and industrial environments. Publications emphasize cybersecurity challenges in aviation, industrial networks, and IoT, with recent work addressing quantum-resistant protocols and drone remote identification security. Collaborations include contributions to conferences like NordSec and AIAA DATC. He is affiliated with the cybersecurity lab at LiU, supporting educational programs like Digital4Business, which integrates AI and cybersecurity expertise. His role in the Database and Information Techniques (ADIT) division highlights involvement in interdisciplinary research groups.
Carlos Enrique Palau is a prominent researcher in the field of Internet of Things (IoT), edge computing, and cyber-physical systems. His work focuses on interoperability, security, and scalability in distributed systems, particularly in industrial and smart city applications. He has contributed to frameworks for cloud-edge continuum integration, blockchain-based IoT solutions, and federated computing architectures. Key areas of research include: IoT interoperability and semantic frameworks Edge computing and distributed workload management Cybersecurity for IoT and critical infrastructure Smart port logistics and real-time data analytics Cognitive services in legacy port management systems His recent work explores: Data-as-a-Product frameworks for Industry 4.0/5.0 Autonomous workload scheduling in energy-efficient edge-cloud systems Deception mechanisms for IoT security Self-* capabilities in cloud-edge nodes Palau has collaborated extensively with institutions like Universitat Politècnica de València and international partners in projects funded by EU initiatives. His research addresses practical challenges in industrial IoT deployments, smart city infrastructure, and emergency management systems.