From July 26 to 29, 2024, with the approval of the Ministry of Education, the "14th International Conference on Logistics, Informatics and Service Science (LISS2024)" and the "11th International Conference on Industrial Economics System and Industrial Security Engineering (IEIS2024)" were successfully held. The conferences were organized by the International Center for Informatics Research (ICIR), the School of Economics and Management, the National Academy of Economic Security (NAES), and the Humanities and Social Sciences Office of Beijing Jiaotong University, implemented by the African Henri Business School, and co-organized by the University of Reading in the UK, Beijing Information Science and Technology University, and Beijing Wuzi University.

The opening ceremony for the LISS2024 and IEIS2024 conferences took place on July 27 and July 28 respectively, with synchronized events at the African Henri Business School in Cape Town, South Africa, and at Beijing Jiaotong University in China.

Professor Zhongliang Guan, one of the General Chairs of LISS2024 and Vice President of Beijing Jiaotong University, delivered a welcome address on behalf of the host, extending a warm welcome to all attending guests, experts, and scholars at the opening ceremony of LISS2024, July 27. He expressed gratitude to the African Henri Business School for their organization and hosting of the conference, introduced the history and vision of Beijing Jiaotong University, and wished the conference a complete success.

Professor Jonathan Foster-Pedley, Dean of the African Henri Business School, welcomed the participants on behalf of the organizing unit and wished the conference a successful outcome.

Wenze You, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Cape Town welcomed all domestic scholars to Cape Town and appreciated the joint organization of the international academic conference by Beijing Jiaotong University and the African Henri Business School. He noted the positive impact on promoting scientific, technological, and cultural exchanges between China and South Africa and hoped that Beijing Jiaotong University would make greater contributions to furthering such exchanges.

Professor Elena B. Spasova, Dean of Henley Business School at the University of Reading, spoke highly of the ICIR, a collaboration between Beijing Jiaotong University and the University of Reading, and looked forward to enhancing the teaching and research cooperation between Henley Business School and the School of Economics and Management at Beijing Jiaotong University.

Representatives from the conference sponsors, Mr. Andre Laubscher, Cape Town Director of Dahua Technology South Africa Co., Ltd., and Ms. Elina Yu, Sales Director of China Unicom (South Africa) Operations Limited, also addressed the attendees, welcoming the experts and scholars and expressing hopes for strengthened collaboration with Beijing Jiaotong University, wishing the conference a successful conclusion.

Professor Runtong Zhang, another General Chair of LISS2024, introduced the conference's organizational work and reported on the submission and review process. The opening ceremony in South Africa was chaired by Professor Kecheng Liu from the University of Reading.

On July 28th, at the IEIS2024 opening ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa, Professor Kecheng Liu, the General Chair of the conference and a faculty member at the University of Reading, delivered a welcome address on behalf of the organizers. He expressed his honor in being involved in the organization of the IEIS conference over the years, reviewed the history of the conference's past editions, and the partner universities involved. He also shared the journey and vision of development of Henley Business School at the University of Reading, extending his best wishes to the attending experts and scholars. Professor Guowei Hua, Executive Vice President of the National Academy of Economic Security (NAES), warmly welcomed the participating experts and provided insights into the organizational efforts behind IEIS2024, as well as the submission and acceptance of papers for the conference. The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Runtu Zhang, another General Chair of the conference.

At the Beijing venue, Vice President Tao Jing extended a warm welcome to President  Min Zuo and Vice President Chuang Zhang of Beijing Wuzi University, along with their delegation. Professor Xianliang Shi, Dean of the School of Economics and Management, delivered a welcome address, greeting scholars from around the world who attended the conference and academic exchanges at Beijing Jiaotong University. He highlighted the achievements of the School of Economics and Management in talent cultivation, scientific research, and international exchanges. He also expressed gratitude to all experts and scholars for their longstanding support of the development of the School of Economics and Management at Beijing Jiaotong University and for their contributions to the LISS and IEIS international conferences.

The conference featured keynote speeches by renowned scholars in management science, logistics management, informatization of logistics, and industrial economics. Professor Xuewei Li, Co-General Chair of LISS2024 and ICIR, presented a report titled "Discussion to the Theory of Global Associative Space of Human Consciousness," analyzing the theoretical mechanisms of the interaction between AI and big data in the physical world. He introduced the concept and construction mechanism of the Global Associative Space and discussed its application in AI algorithms and the evolutionary direction of algorithmic swarms.

Professor Martin Dresner from the University of Maryland presented a report titled "Targeting Online Sales through Last-mile Delivery Platform Integration," examining the channel integration between Target.com and "last-mile" logistics delivery platforms. Yannis A. Phillis, a researcher at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the European Academy of Sciences (EurASc), presented "A National Healthcare Model under Climate Change," where he established a stratified national healthcare model to address the negative health impacts of climate change, validating its effectiveness with case studies from countries with varying income levels.

Professor Min Zuo, Dean of Beijing Wuzi University, discussed "Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Technology Assisting Food Safety Supervision," exploring the use of AI and big data to implement a "full-area food" strategy, promote human dietary nutrition and health, and drive the green and sustainable development of the food industry. Professor Kecheng Liu from the University of Reading presented "Digital Talent and Leadership: Leveraging the Power of AI and Digital Solutions," analyzing the nature and characteristics of modern enterprises and the role of digital technologies and solutions in the formation of corporate digitalization and digital business ecosystems.

Professor Jian Chen from Tsinghua University spoke on "Quality and Private Label Encroachment Strategy," exploring the quality choices and pricing strategies of e-commerce platform enterprises in market encroachment and their impact on social welfare, providing useful guidance for retailers' private brand selection. Mr. Andre Laubscher, Cape Town Director of Dahua Technology South Africa Co., Ltd., introduced the company's smart education solutions in the context of AI and the Internet of Things, offering pathways for seamless access, office management, and security assurance.

Professor Xingfen Wang, Vice President of Beijing Information Science and Technology University, Professor Eva Gallardo-Gallardo from the Technical University of Catalonia, Researcher Jiren Shen from Beijing Capital Food Group, Professor Hui Jiang, Deputy Director of the Research Institute at Beijing Jiaotong University, Professor Hongchang Li, Vice Dean of the School of Economics and Management at Beijing Jiaotong University, Professor Zhenji Zhang, Director of ICIR, Professor Juiliang Zhang, Chairman of the ICIR Academic Committee, Professor Dan Chang, Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee, along with faculty and students from the Sino-European School of Doctoral Studies, joined all authors in the opening ceremony of the conference.

During the conference, Vice President Zhongliang Guan also held in-depth discussions with Consul General Wenze You of the People's Republic of China in Cape Town and Dean Jonathan of the African Henri Business School on scientific research cooperation and academic exchanges between our university and South African government and universities, particularly in the fields of transportation, logistics, and management.

During the conference, 20 parallel forums were held simultaneously, with nearly 200 scholars from 13 countries and regions around the globe participating in the LISS2024 and IEIS2024 academic meetings to present papers and engage in scholarly discussions.

The conference was significantly supported by the IEEE SMC Technical Committee on Informatics and Industrial Security Systems, Kancheng Wang Education Fund, Sino-European Doctoral School for Sustainable Engineering in Logistics, Informatics, and Service Science (SESE), Beijing Research Base of Logistics Informatics, Dahua Technology South Africa (Pty) Ltd, China Unicom (South Africa) Operations (Pty) Ltd, H3C Technologies Africa (Pty) Ltd, Beijing Key Laboratory of Logistics Management and Technology, and the Beijing Industrial Security Research Base.

The two conferences received over 300 paper submissions from 13 countries and regions. After rigorous review by the Program Committee, 120 papers were accepted. Young scholars and doctoral students from "The 9th Summer School of Sino-EU Doctoral School for Logistics, Information, Management, and Service Science" participated in the conference. The keynote speeches and paper presentations sparked strong interest and enthusiastic response from the attendees. Scholars from academic organizations and renowned universities at home and abroad congratulated the conference in various forms. Springer Nature will continue to support, publish, and promote the conference proceedings.

Upon application from Budapest University of Technology and Economics and approval from the conference organizing committee, the 15th LISS and 12th IEIS conferences will be held in Budapest in July 2025, hosted by Budapest University of Technology and Economics.

Conference Overview:

The LISS conference, co-founded by Beijing Jiaotong University's ICIR, the University of Reading, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of California, Berkeley, aims to bring together experts, scholars, and industry professionals in logistics, informatization, and service science. It focuses on discussing academic issues, seizing future development opportunities, and exchanging the latest research outcomes and academic ideas. The IEIS conference is jointly initiated by Beijing Jiaotong University's NAES, ICIR, and the University of California, Berkeley. It gathers experts, scholars, and business professionals from around the world to address national strategic needs and academic frontiers in industrial economics and security. The conference supports the scientific resolution of significant issues in national economies, societal development, and economic security through scientific thought, methods, and technologies.

Each conference, approved by the Ministry of Education, is successfully held with the support of Beijing Jiaotong University's leadership, relevant authorities, and the School of Economics and Management. It also receives backing from the Kancheng Wang Fund of the Ministry of Education, the Sino-European Engineering Education Alliance, the Sino-European Doctoral School for Logistics, Informatics, Management, and Service Science, the IEEE SMC Technical Committee on Informatics and Industrial Security Systems, the Beijing Research Base of Logistics Informatics, the University of Reading, the University of California, Berkeley, the Technical University of Catalonia, the University of Sydney, Kyoto University, the University of Toronto, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the African Henri Business School.

The LISS conference has been successfully held for 14 editions at various prestigious institutions, including Beijing Jiaotong University, the University of Reading, the University of California, Berkeley, the Technical University of Catalonia, the University of Sydney, Kyoto University, the University of Toronto, the University of Maryland, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the African Henri Business School.

The IEIS conference has been successfully held for 11 editions at Beijing Jiaotong University, the University of California, Berkeley, the Technical University of Catalonia, the University of Sydney, Kyoto University, the University of Toronto, the University of Maryland, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the African Henri Business School.

The LISS and IEIS international conferences have become renowned academic events in the fields of logistics, informatization, service science, and economic security, with a broad academic impact.