Dr Zheng Liu BEng, MPhil, PhD

Associate Professor in Logistics and Operations Management

Dr Zheng Liu holds a B.Eng degree in Automation from Tsinghua University, an M.Phil in Industrial Systems, Manufacture and Management from the University of Cambridge, and a Ph.D in Engineering (Manufacturing and Management) from the University of Cambridge. She had previously worked at Kyoto University, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, the University of South Wales, and Cardiff Metropolitan University before joining the University of Greenwich in 2024 as an Associate Professor in Logistics and Operations Management.

Zheng has more than 10 years’ experience in teaching Operations Management, Innovation Management, and Strategic Management across UG, PG levels and for professional graduate programmes and MBA courses. She is a fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy and holds a PGCert in Higher Education from the University of Liverpool.

Zheng’s research focuses on three main areas: Supply Chain Sustainability, Innovation Ecosystem, and Circular Economy.  The results of her research have been published in more than 40 journals and book chapters, including Production Planning and Control, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Technovation. Since 2021, Zheng has led and collaborated on several research projects on circular economy innovations and digital transformation funded by the Welsh and UK Government. Her current research investigates the reconfiguration process of global supply chains in times of uncertainty. Other ongoing projects study how a circular ecosystem transforms business models in Wales and the UK manufacturing sectors, and the patent market in platform-based innovation ecosystems in China.

Students interested in studying for a PhD in Supply Chain Management, Sustainability, and Innovation are encouraged to apply.

Logistics and supply chain management

Business and management studies

Responsibilities within the university

Teaching and Research

Awards
  • Academy of Management Conference   Chan Hahn Best Paper Finalist (2023)
  • Cardiff Metropolitan University   Doctoral Researcher Supervisor Award Nomination (2023)
  • Journal of Open Innovation Best Reviewer Award (2022, 2021)
  • Cardiff Metropolitan University   Student Led Teaching Award Nomination (2022)
  • Society of Open Innovation   Conference Best Paper Award (2021, 2020, 2019)
  • Journal of Open Innovation Most Cited Paper Award (2020)
  • South Wales Business School   Research Conference Best Paper Award (2020, 2019)
  • South Wales Business School   Research Conference Best Paper Award (2019)

Recognition

Academic Memberships

  • Board Member: Open Innovation   Academy of the Society of Open Innovation (2020–)
  • Research Fellow: Centre for   Innovation and Development (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)   (2016–)
  • Fellow: Higher Education Academy (2016–)
  • Member: Academy of International   Business (2006–), Academy of Management (2008–), Chinese Association for Science of Science and   S&T Policy of Management   (2023–), Circular Economy Innovation Communities (2021–), Networks and Urban Systems Centre   (University of Greenwich) (2024–), Regional Innovation and Regeneration Centre (Cardiff   Metropolitan University) (2023–)

Editorial Experience

  • Associate Editor: Journal of   Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity (2024–, Editorial   Board Member 2020–2023)
  • Guest Editor: Special issue –   Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium Models, Energy Policy, and Climate   Change Adaptation. Journal of Risk and Financial Management (2023)
  • Guest Editor: Special issue –   Ambidextrous Open Innovation in the 4th Industrial Revolution. Science,   Technology and Society (2020)
  • Guest Editor: Special issue –   Ambidextrous Open Innovation for Sustainability. Sustainability (2020)
  • Guest Editor: Special Issue –   Sustainability of Economy, Society, and Environment in the 4th Industrial   Revolution. Sustainability (2019)
  • Editorial Board Member: B.   Christiansen and F. Kasarci (eds.). Corporate Espionage, Geopolitics, and   Diplomacy Issues in International Business. IGI Global (2015)
  • Editorial Board Member: B.   Christiansen and G. Koc (eds.). Handbook of Research on Scientific and   Technological Advancement in Asia. IGI Global (2015)

External Examiner

  • External examiner: University of Gloucestershire   on the MSc International Business (2024–)

Research / Scholarly interests

Supply Chain Sustainability, Innovation Ecosystem, Circular Economy

Key funded projects

  • Welsh Digital Transformation (2023),   Wales Innovation Network Small Grant Funding, As PI.
  • A Systematic Mapping of Available   Foundational Economy Content and Interventions in Wales and Develop a   Knowledge Repository (2023), Welsh Government Fund, As Co-I. The project was   to provide public and third sector practitioners in Wales with content and   insights into knowledge of foundational economy and to provide guides for   implementing foundational economy principles.
  • Circular Economy Innovation   Communities (2021–2023), European Social Fund, As Academic Support (case study development   and dissemination). The project has engaged 200 managers from 80 public and   third sector organisations in Wales to develop new service solutions to   enhance productivity and deliver circular economy benefits.
  • A Study on Smart Payment and Open   Innovation Business Model (2022–2023), Society of Open Innovation Research   Fund, As Co-I.
  • Circular Economy and Foundational   Economy Case Studies (2022), Wales Innovation Network, As Co-I. The project has   developed 21 circular economy and foundational economy case studies for   practitioner and academic audiences.
  • Sustainable Healthcare Supply Chain   and Digitalisation (2022–2023), Cardiff Metropolitan University Global   Academies Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation Fund, As Co-I.
  • A Scoping and Feasibility Study for   a New Foundational Economy Academy in Wales (2022), Welsh Government Fund, As   Team Member. The project explored how to enhance the capability of public   service practitioners to develop processes and practices that apply the   principles of foundational economy in Wales. The project report was   referenced by the Welsh Government.
  • Achieving Sustainable Development   through the Digital Platform Innovation (2021–2022), Cardiff Metropolitan   University Global Academies Strategic Insight Project fund, As PI.
  • Cultivating a Globally Competitive   Innovation Ecosystem in Jiangsu Province (2019–2020), Jiangsu Provincial   Federation of Philosophy and Social Sciences, As Team Member.
  • Exploring the Innovation System in   Creative Industries (2018–2019), South Wales Business School Early Career   Researcher Fund, As PI.
  • An Investigation on the Creativity   of the Chinese Animation Industry (2016), Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University   Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, As PI.
  • A Study on Fair Trade Business in   China (2015), Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Summer Undergraduate   Research Fellowship, As PI.
  • An Investigation into Foreign   Manufacturing Companies in Suzhou Industrial Park (2014), Xi’an   Jiaotong-Liverpool University Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, As   PI.
  • The Role of Foreign Firms in   Chinese Urbanisation Process (2014–2016), Jiangsu Government Jiangsu   University Natural Science Research Programme, As Co-I.
  • The Changing Geography of   Manufacturing Industry in China-Korea Relations and the Impacts in Host   Cities (2014–2015), Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Research Development   Fund, As Co-I.

Recent publications

Journal Papers

  • Clifton, N.,   Kyaw, S., Liu, Z., Walpole, G. (2024). An empirical study on public   sector versus third sector circular economy-oriented innovations from a   circular economy innovation community study. Sustainability, 16, 1650.
  • Hu, J., Shi,   Y., Cheng, Y., Liu, Z.* (2023). A process-oriented model to measure   product carbon footprint: An exploratory study based on multiple cases. Production   Planning & Control. doi:10.1080/09537287.2023.2266410.
  • James, S., Liu,   Z.*, White, G.R.T., Samuel, A. (2023). Introducing ethical theory to the   Triple Helix model: Supererogatory acts in crisis innovation. Technovation,   16, 102832.
  • Liang, K., Ma,   L., Liu, Z., Yi, C. (2023). Successfully operating patent digital   platform in China: A configurational perspective. Managerial and Decision   Economics, 1-15.
  • Shi, Y., Hu,   J., Shang, D.T., Liu, Z*, Zhang, W. (2023). Industrialisation,   ecologicalisation and digitalisation: Building a theoretical framework for   sustainable development. Industrial Management and Data Systems,   123(4), 1252-1277.
  • Yi, C., Ma, L.,   Liu, Z., Liang, K., Huang, X. (2023). Cultivating regional innovation   ecosystems in the digital age: Case studies of four cites in China. Science,   Technology and Society, 28(2), 191-212.
  • Liu, Z.*, James, S., Walpole, G., White, G.R.T. (2023). A   communities of practice approach to promoting regional circular economy   innovation: Evidence from east Wales. European Planning Studies,   31(5), 988-1006.
  • Yun, J.J.,   Zhao, X., Ma, L., Liu, Z., Yang, B. (2022). The dynamics of open   innovation and business model in the mobile payment industry: Comparing the   three different economies of Korea, China, and the UK. European Planning   Studies, 31(5), 862-884.
  • James, S., Liu,   Z.*, Stephens, V., White, G.R.T. (2022). Innovation in Crisis: the role   of ‘exaptive relations’ for medical device development in response to   COVID-19. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 182,121863.
  • Liang, K., Ma,   L., Liu, Z., Li, T. (2022). Structuring and operating patent   intermediary as platform ecosystem: Case studies of patent operation   platforms in China. Science, Technology and Society, 27(2),   191-212.
  • Yun, J.J.,   Zhao, X., Ma, L., Xu, Z., Liu, Z. (2022). Open innovation and   multi-homing of delivery platforms: Comparative study of Cardiff, Daegu, and   Nanjing. European Planning Studies, 31(3), 576-597.
  • Yun, J.J., Liu,   Z*., Zhao, X. (2021). Introduction: Ambidextrous open innovation in the 4th industrial revolution. Science, Technology and Society, 26(2),   183-200.
  • Zhang, K., Liu,   Z*., Wang, P. (2020). Exploring the supply chain management of fair trade   business: Case study of a fair trade craft company in China. Cogent   Business and Management, 7(1), 1734345.
  • Ma, L., Liu,   Z*., Huang, X., Li, T. (2019). The impact of local government policy on   innovation ecosystem in knowledge resource scarce region: Case study of   Changzhou, China. Science, Technology and Society, 26(1), 1-24.
  • Rong, K., Liu,   Z., Shi, Y. (2011). Reshaping the business ecosystem in China: Case   studies and implications. Journal of Science and Technology Policy in   China, 2(2), 171-192.
  • Liu, Z., Shi, Y. (2007). The emergence of international   outsourcing agents in China: A new type of player in international supply   networks. Journal of Asia Business Studies, 2(1), 1-13.

Published Reports

Presentations

Invited Presentations

  • Introducing ethical theory and   exaptation innovation to the Triple Helix model. Centre for Innovation and   Development Research Seminar, Nanjing University of Science and Technology,   Nanjing, 23 December 2023.
  • Industrialisation,   ecologicalisation, and digitalisation. Workshop on Digital Economy Development,   Nanjing/Online, 24 June 2023.
  • Circular economy case studies. Circular Economy Practices in   Wales – Who, What and How, Cardiff, 27 Oct 2022. (as presenter and panellist)
  • Cardiff’s regional innovation in   the era of digital transformation. Society of Open Innovation Research Seminar, Online, 15 September   2022.
  • Innovation in crisis: An   examination of the interoperation of Triple Helix actors in response to   Covid-19 pandemic & an introduction of the collaborative   autoethnography method for this study. South Wales Business School Research Seminar,   Online, 24 March 2021.
  • The transformation of global supply   chain in the context of business ecosystem: Case study on the   VentilatorChallengeUK in response to Covid-19 pandemic. Centre for Innovation and   Development Research Seminar, Online, 5 April 2021.
  • Achieving   sustainability through open innovation: Roles of industry, government,   university and the society. Symposium on Innovation Driven and High   Quality Development, Nanning, 27-28 April 2019.

Conference Presentations

  • Redesign and reconfigure   international manufacturing networks: A new theoretical framework exploration. Cambridge International Manufacturing Symposium,   Cambridge, 21-22 September 2023.
  • Towards an ecosystem approach to   supply chain reconfiguration: An explorative case study on the   VentilatorChallengeUK. Academy of Management Annual Conference, Boston/Online, 4-8 August   2023.
  • Implementing circular economy:   Experience from Wales. Society of Open Innovation Conference, Naples, 12-15 July 2023.
  • Redesign and reconfigure   international manufacturing networks: A new theoretical framework exploration. Academy of International Business   Conference, Warsaw, 5-9 July 2023.
  • Implementing   Circular Economy Principles: Case studies in Wales. Centre for Creativity, Leadership and Regional   Economies and Regional Centre of Expertise Cymru Conference,   Aberystwyth/Online, 29th June 2023.
  • A process-oriented model to measure   product carbon footprint: An exploratory study based on multiple cases. Advances in Management and   Innovation Conference, Cardiff, 16-17 May 2023.
  • A communities of practice approach   to promoting regional circular economy innovation: Evidence from east Wales. Society of Open Innovation   Conference, Swansea, 6-9 July 2022.
  • Open innovation in times of crisis:   An overview of the healthcare sector in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Society of Open Innovation   Conference, Swansea, 6-9 July 2022.
  • Industrialisation,   ecologicalisation and digitalization. International Conference on Emerging Challenges, 5-6 November, Ninh   Binh/Online, 2021.
  • The impact of government policy on   macro dynamic innovation of the creative industries: Studies of the UK’s and   China’s animation sectors. Society of Open Innovation Conference, Online 12-15 July 2021.
  • Collaborative governance for   responsible innovation in the context of sharing economy: Studies on the   shared bicycle sector in China. Society of Open Innovation Conference, Online, 12-15 July 2020.
  • Exploring   innovation ecosystem from the perspective of sustainability: Towards a   conceptual framework. Society of Open   Innovation Conference, Nagoya, 28 June-1 July 2019.