EurOMA Sustainable Operations and Supply Chains Forum
A large, diverse community with a common goal
We had the pleasure of welcoming around 150 participants from various countries across the globe, including Europe, the UK, Switzerland, Japan, the USA, Turkey, India, and Nigeria. Attendees included about 40 professors, 50 PhD students, and 60 further researchers as well as participants from industry and non-profit organizations. Against the backdrop of the Hanseatic setting and overlooking the dynamic port scene, we discussed pressing issues: How can we make our supply chains more sustainable? The event centered around the theme "Rethinking Shared Value Creation through Sustainable Operations and Supply Chains", aiming to align business interests with societal and environmental needs to generate long-term value for stakeholders.
A memorable day at KLU‘s campus
We cultivated an informal, collegial, and constructive atmosphere throughout the conference, encouraging open discussions and collaboration among participants. With ample time allocated for sessions and breaks, attendees had numerous opportunities to network, engage, and exchange ideas. In addition to academic sessions, attendees enjoyed a memorable conference dinner on board the MS Hammonia, including a trip through the port of Hamburg.
The program included almost 100 presentations covering a wide range of topics, such as Food Supply Chains, Circular Economy, Digital Transformation, Social Sustainability, Buyer-Supplier Relationships, Humanitarian Operations, and many more. The Sustainability Forum also incorporated avenues for discussing innovative teaching cases and hosting incubator sessions. One such session “Best Practices to Get Your Research Published”, aimed to assist young researchers in disseminating their research papers. Additional sessions concentrated on pioneering teaching methods to build up a sustainability mindset among students, as well as sessions on African perspectives on sustainable supply chains, optimizing supply chain preparedness in the humanitarian sector, or a session on the future trajectories of trade: the necessity of growth versus degrowth.
Keynote speech on smart freight insights
My personal highlight of the Forum was the keynote speech by Christoph Wolff, CEO of the Smart Freight Center Centre, who provided insights into decarbonizing road freight supply chains and overcoming coordination challenges. This presentation offered attendees valuable insights into areas requiring further research and practical solutions in real-world contexts.
See you in Porto
I express my gratitude to all participants, reviewers, and members of the organizing committee for their invaluable contributions to the EurOMA Sustainability Forum. The 12th and 13th editions will be held in Porto, Portugal, with Ricardo Augusto Zimmermann and António J. Baptista serving as the main organizers. I extend my best wishes to them and eagerly anticipate the insightful discussions and collaborations that will emerge in the years to come.
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