The integration of digital economy and green development concepts is profoundly transforming our modes of production and lifestyle. It also brings unprecedented opportunities and challenges for industrial upgrading and enterprise transformation. The synergistic empowerment of digital intelligence and greenization is not only key to promoting industrial transformation and high-quality economic development but also a necessary choice for achieving sustainable socio-economic development and building a community with a shared future for humanity. To further enhance the international influence of our university's business school and the level of international scientific research cooperation, and to contribute to the university's goal of becoming a "university with distinctive features and international influence," an international academic conference themed "Synergistic Empowerment of Industrial Upgrading and Enterprise Transformation through Data Intelligence and Greenization" was successfully held on April 18. The conference was organized by the Business School of Nanjing Normal University and initiated and convened by Dean Bai Junhong. It attracted over a hundred teachers and students and invited experts and scholars from various domestic and international universities.

 

At the beginning of the conference, Dean Bai Junhong delivered a speech. He introduced the comprehensive strength and disciplinary advantages of the Business School in detail and reviewed the important achievements the school has made in recent years, including national teaching awards and major national social science fund projects. He profoundly elaborated on the far-reaching impact of digital economic development and green development concepts on industrial upgrading and enterprise transformation, and pointed out that the synergy between digital intelligence and greenization is crucial for promoting industrial transformation and realizing high-quality development.

Bai Junhong, Business School of Nanjing Normal University, delivered a speech

 

Xin Chen from the Georgia Institute of Technology gave a speech titled "Inventory Optimization and Learning under Uncertain Supply." He analyzed the systematic challenges that supply chain uncertainty and long lead times brought to inventory management strategies under external shocks such as the pandemic. By introducing online learning and data-driven methods, he proposed an inventory optimization model targeting the "minimum regret," which can enhance the flexibility and robustness of supply chain decision-making in an environment with limited information feedback. His research demonstrates the wide application of digital intelligence tools in the management of complex systems and provides theoretical support and practical pathways for promoting intelligent and resilient industrial upgrading.

Speech by Professor Xin Chen of Georgia Institute of Technology

 

Kevin Li from the University of Windsor shared his insights on "Optimal Operations of Closed-Loop Supply Chains under Dual Regulation." Focusing on the policy design and implementation in the recycling and reuse of electronic waste (WEEE), he proposed a dual-regulation framework consisting of a "minimum recycling rate" and an "enhanced deposit-refund policy." By constructing theoretical models, he systematically analyzed the synergistic effects of this policy on corporate profits and environmental performance. He emphasized the systematic impact of policy tool combination design on the efficiency of closed-loop supply chain operations, providing important theoretical basis and practical guidelines for governments to formulate more scientific and rational environmental policies and for enterprises to plan green recycling paths.

Speech by Professor Kevin Li of the University of Windsor

 

Jie Yang, an associate professor from the University of Texas at Tyler, reported on "Legality, Compliance, and Ethical Issues of Artificial Intelligence in Human Resource Management." He pointed out that AI has been widely used in recruitment, performance evaluation, employee motivation, and workplace design, bringing efficiency improvements while also causing challenges such as algorithmic bias, lack of transparency, and legal disputes. He emphasized that global efforts are being made to advance relevant legal frameworks, such as the EU AI Act and New York City's AI laws in the United States. He called for strengthened international regulatory cooperation and the construction of ethical frameworks to achieve a balance between corporate benefits and social responsibilitie.

Speech by Associate Professor Jie Yang of the University of Texas at Taylor

 

Andrea Appolloni, an associate professor from the University of Rome Tor Vergata, spoke on "Leading the Digital Supply Chain Era and Enhancing Sustainability in a Complex Risk World." He noted that against the backdrop of global resource constraints, accelerated urbanization, and demographic changes, companies need to use digital means to enhance the transparency, responsiveness, and sustainability of their supply chains. Drawing on case studies from multiple countries and cooperation projects with the United Nations, he emphasized the strategic importance of innovation, creativity, and collaborative mechanisms in green transformation. He called for deeper international cooperation between academia and industry to find new drivers for industrial transformation at the intersection of digital intelligence and greenization.

Speech by Associate Professor Andrea Appolloni of the University of Rome II

 

Wang Wei from Hohai University systematically analyzed the development of China's green water transport industry. Starting from the national "dual carbon" goals, he introduced the latest progress in policy, technology, and path design in China. He pointed out that the green water transport system is moving towards new energy, intelligence, and multimodal transportation, and has made breakthroughs in optimizing shipping structure, port transformation, and energy conservation and emission reduction. The report also emphasized the core position of green water transport in the national low-carbon transportation strategy and called for strengthened policy guidance, technological innovation, and regional coordination to build a more efficient, green, and safe transportation ecosystem.

Speech by Professor Wang Wei of Hehai University

 

Karena Ji Yan from Durham University introduced the research on the implementation of smart city technologies in collaboration with the founder of Great Smarter Cities, with the theme "From Patents to Streets: Scaling Up Innovation for Smart Cities." She detailed the smart traffic management system realized through digital parking zones, IoT sensors, and virtual no-go areas. The project has obtained several key technology patents and achieved practical results in alleviating urban congestion, reducing carbon emissions, and improving road safety. She pointed out that smart city construction needs to be based on technological innovation and oriented towards optimizing public services, promoting the deep integration of green travel and urban governance.

Speech by Professor Karena JiYan of Durham University

 

The successful hosting of this international academic conference not only provided a high-end platform for international academic exchange and cooperation for the participants but also further enhanced the international academic influence and the level of international scientific research cooperation of the Business School in the field of synergistic empowerment of digital intelligence and greenization for industrial transformation and enterprise change. It provided new ideas and directions for promoting academic research and industrial development in related fields and laid a solid foundation for the Business School's future continuous international academic cooperation and exchange.