Publisher: School of Management 

Date: January 16, 2024

Authors: YE Keyi and WU Haoxing

In a bid to explore the frontier of digital transformation in supply chain management, JNU recently played host to the prestigious Digital Supply Chain Summit Forum at Hall 101 of the Huiquan Building. The event also marked the unveiling ceremony of the Digital Intelligence Supply Chain Innovation Research Center under the aegis of the School of Management at JNU. Distinguished academic and industry leaders converged at the forum to deliberate on the theme Connecting Theory and Practice - Opportunities and Challenges of Digital Supply Chain Innovation, shedding light on the evolving landscape of supply chain dynamics in the era of digitalization.

The summit witnessed the esteemed presence of President Song Xianzhong of JNU and Party Secretary Qu Xiangli of the School of Management, who underscored the pivotal role of digital transformation in reshaping enterprise supply chains amidst the digital economy era. Drawing on the synergy between academic insights and industry best practices, the forum aimed to chart a course towards enhanced digitalization and sustainability in modern enterprise operations.

Li Aimei, in her address, emphasized the strategic imperative of the Digital Business framework championed by the School of Management, heralding the Digital Intelligence Supply Chain Innovation Research Center as a beacon of interdisciplinary excellence poised to make a profound impact in academia and industry realms.

Wei Ying, the Executive Director of the Smart Supply Chain Innovation Research Center, elucidated the center's strategic roadmap, organizational structure, and key focus areas encompassing digital operations, enterprise transformation, and data analytics. The research center, boasting a cadre of esteemed academic and industry advisors, is poised to spearhead innovative research initiatives that bridge academia and industry, fostering collaborative research endeavors and industry-academia partnerships.

The summit drew a distinguished cohort of scholars from prestigious universities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, alongside senior executives from globally renowned firms such as Siemens and Huawei. The unveiling ceremony of the research center, attended by nearly 200 faculty and students from the School of Management, marked a significant milestone in the realm of digital supply chain innovation.

Keynote speakers at the forum included luminaries such as Professor Chen Youhua from City University of Hong Kong, Fan Meihua from Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Professor Zhao Xiande from China Europe International Business School, and Shang Huijie from Siemens (China) Co., Ltd. Their insightful presentations delved into cutting-edge topics ranging from artificial intelligence-driven inventory models to resilient digital supply ecosystems, underscoring the imperative of digital transformation in navigating the evolving supply chain landscape.

The roundtable forum, themed Opportunities and Challenges of Digital Supply Chain Innovation, facilitated engaging discussions among esteemed guests, including Professor Niu Baozhuang, Shang Huijie, Professor Chen Haiquan, Peng Xin, and Zhang Lianmin. Their dialogues delved into the transformative potential of digital technologies in enhancing supply chain efficiency, mitigating risks, and fostering innovation across industry verticals.

The summit forum served as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, charting a roadmap for digital supply chain innovation and industry-academia synergy. As the Digital Supply Chain Innovation Research Center at JNU continues its quest for excellence, the convergence of academic rigor and industry insights promises to redefine the contours of digital intelligence in supply chain management.