Keynote Speakers

Dr. Yacob Khojasteh, Professor

Graduate School of Global Studies, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan

Biography: Dr. Yacob Khojasteh is a Professor of Operations Management at the Graduate School of Global Studies, Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan. He was a Visiting Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University, in Toronto, Canada, during 2021–2022. He is the author or editor of several books, including Digital Transformation of Supply Chains (2026, Springer), Emerging Technologies in Supply Chains (2026, Springer), Supply Chain Risk Mitigation: Strategies, Methods, and Applications (2022, Springer), etc. He has several years of professional experience in industry and consulting. His research interests include production and operations management, supply chain management, systems modeling and optimization, digital transformation, and business analytics.

Topic: Innovation Management in Supply Chains: Digital Transformation with Cutting-Edge Technologies

Abstract: In an era of global volatility and rapid technological advancement, innovation management has become central to supply chain transformation. This keynote explores how cutting-edge technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, advanced analytics, and digital twins, serve as enablers of systemic innovation across supply chain networks. Drawing on multiple case studies of leading global organizations, it examines how firms orchestrate digital initiatives to enhance visibility, resilience, and operational efficiency. A key focus is placed on “digital transformation maturity,” highlighting the integration of real-time data, predictive capabilities, and intelligent decision-making systems. The talk further addresses managerial challenges, including implementation complexity and change management, emphasizing the human and organizational dimensions of innovation. It concludes by outlining strategic principles for building adaptive, intelligent, and future-ready supply chains through effective innovation management.

Dr. Zhimin Luo, Professor

Institute of China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education, Hangzhou

Biography: Dr. Zhimin Luo is the Associate Director of the Institute of China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education at Hangzhou Normal University, where he is also a Third-Level Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, and Postdoctoral Supervisor. He holds a Ph.D. in Management from Wuhan University and completed postdoctoral research in Education at Zhejiang University. He is a recipient of the Zhejiang Provincial Philosophy and Social Science Leading Talent award and serves as the Chief Expert of the Innovation Team in Henan Province. He holds concurrent positions as Executive Director of the National Higher Education Professional Committee of the China Higher Education Association, Executive Director of the Education Policy and Planning Committee of the Chinese Society of Educational Development Strategy, and Vice Chairman of the Education Statistics and Management Committee of the Chinese Association of Applied Statistics. In recent years, he has led 4 projects funded by the National Social Science Fund of China and 5 major and key provincial-level research projects. As the principal investigator, he has received 1 award from the Ministry of Education for Humanities and Social Sciences, 2 National Education Science Awards, 2 First Prize awards for Provincial Social Science Achievements, 1 Special Prize for University Humanities and Social Sciences in Henan Province, and 3 Special Prizes for Provincial Education Science Achievements. He has published over 130 academic articles in CSSCI journals such as Educational Research and Higher Education Research, in authoritative newspapers such as People's Daily and Guangming Daily, as well as in top-tier Q1 SSCI journals.

Topic: Creating a "Possibility Space": The Mechanism and Framework for the Integrated Construction of the University Innovation System

Abstract: As an important subject of national scientific research and innovation, the realization and emergence of innovative talents and achievements in universities are first constrained by the premise of whether they have established a suitable innovation system. Based on in-depth interviews with fifty-five senior experts, this study reveals that the successful implementation and efficacy of the integrated construction depend on three core elements—"Actors" "Guidance and Rules" and "Relations and Platforms"—and their dynamic interrelationships. Consequently, the core tasks of integrated construction involve: strengthening value-driven motivation, clarifying goal-oriented direction, and perfecting institutional safeguards for the actors, while simultaneously forging relational networks and building collaborative platforms. Further analysis indicates that despite the inherent complexity of integrating a university innovation system, its essence and ultimate direction lie in creating a "possibility space" for actors—a space designed to fully unleash imagination and creativity. This maximizes the potential for transforming the innovative capabilities of faculty and students into tangible results. Cultivating this possibility space requires universities to adopt an actor-centered approach, strategically focusing on enhancing the "agency" and "accessibility" necessary for faculty and students to enter and utilize this space effectively. This guiding framework not only transcends the "designism" myth prevalent in traditional innovation system research, but also provides a clear and actionable practical pathway for the integrated construction of university innovation systems.