Dr. Lorenz Granrath | Production Technology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Lorenz Granrath | Production Technology | Best Researcher Award

Japan Representative , Fraunhofer ICNAP, Japan

Dr. Lorenz Granrath  is a German-born expert in EU-Japan science-industry collaboration, with over 25 years of dedicated work in advanced technology sectors including AI, digital transformation (DX), environmental technology, and renewable energy. Based in Tokyo, Japan, he has held prominent roles such as Professor, Senior Advisor, and Representative in numerous German-Japanese institutional partnerships. He has successfully initiated and led international research projects, founded labs, advised companies, and lectured at leading universities including Waseda University. He is married to Megumi Ishigami and has one daughter.

Publication Profile

Summary of Suitability for Best Research Award – Dr. Lorenz Granrath

Dr. Lorenz Granrath exemplifies an outstanding candidate for the Best Research Award due to his extensive and impactful career in international science-industry collaboration, particularly between the EU and Japan. With over 25 years of strategic involvement in AI, digital transformation (DX), renewable energy, and advanced industrial technologies, he has played a crucial role in bridging academia, government bodies, and industry stakeholders. His leadership in securing funding, initiating R&D centers, establishing major cross-national collaborations (such as between AIST and DFKI), and launching cutting-edge projects like e-VITA, underscores his long-standing commitment to advancing global research agendas.

🎓 Education Background

Dr. Granrath earned his Doctorate in Economics (Dr. oec.) from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland (1990–1994), where his thesis explored the protection and exchange of technologies between Japanese and Western firms. He also studied as a Visiting Researcher at The University of Tokyo (1992–1993). He holds a diploma in Industrial Engineering (Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen) from the University of Karlsruhe (KIT), Germany, and completed his secondary education at Schloßschule Kirchberg/Jagst in 1981.

💼 Professional Experience

Dr. Granrath currently serves as the Representative at Fraunhofer-ICNAP since November 2024 and at the Institute for Experimental Psychophysiology (IXP) since June 2022, focusing on networked adaptive production and psychophysiological emotion detection. He is an advisor to multiple organizations, including ENV Science Trading and Kienbaum Japan, and has been a Visiting Lecturer at Waseda University since 2013. Notably, he served as Project Assistant Professor at Tohoku University (2021–2022) and held a key position as Supervisory Innovation Coordinator at AIST (2014–2021), where he led international AI and energy collaborations. Earlier roles include Fraunhofer Chief Representative Japan (2001–2013), Liaison Officer at GMD (1997–2001), and Project Manager at ABB STOTZ KONTAKT GmbH (1995–1997), underscoring his deep engagement in research and industrial application across continents.

🏅 Awards and Honors

Dr. Granrath’s contributions to EU-Japan collaboration have been recognized through his leadership roles in landmark projects and his success in securing multimillion-euro research contracts. He has been instrumental in initiating major projects such as e-VITA and CrossCDR, establishing international workshops, and founding research labs. His membership in prominent organizations like the Science & Technology Diplomatic Circle, DJW, JSAI, and the JSPS Alumni reflects his standing in the academic and industrial community.

🔬 Research Focus

His interdisciplinary research spans artificial intelligence, digital twins, circular economy, smart aging, and human-centric computing. He has played a vital role in developing technologies for healthy aging, environmental sustainability, and advanced manufacturing. Dr. Granrath’s involvement in projects like e-VITA and initiatives in digital transformation highlight his commitment to bridging societal needs with cutting-edge scientific innovation, especially within the EU-Japan cooperative framework.

📚 Top Publications with Notes

  1. RE-HAK: A Novel Refurbish-to-Host Solution Using AI-Driven Blockchain to Advance Circular Economy and Revitalize Japan’s Akiyas
    🔹 Buildings (2025)

  2. Designing a circular cities declaration for Japan building on the European Union’s case study
    🔹 Journal of Environmental Management (2024)
    🔹 Cited by: 5 articles

  3. Digital Twins for Supporting Ageing Well: Approaches in Current Research and Innovation in Europe and Japan
    🔹 Sustainability (2024)
    🔹 Cited by: 6 articles

  4. The rising phenomenon of circular cities in Japan: Case studies of Kamikatsu, Osaki and Kitakyushu
    🔹 Science of The Total Environment (2023)
    🔹 Cited by: 12 articles

  5. Circular economy and zero-carbon strategies between Japan and South Korea: A comparative study
    🔹 Science of The Total Environment (2022)
    🔹 Cited by: 18 articles

  6. Social Capital Mediates the Association between the ICT Usage and Well-Being of Older People in Japan
    🔹 Sustainability (2022)
    🔹 Cited by: 15 articles

  7. EU-Japan Project e-VITA in Society 5.0: the “Digital Twin for Smart Aging”
    🔹 LinkedIn Newsletter Article (2022)

 

Mr. Federico Briatore | Industry 4.0 | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Federico Briatore | Industry 4.0 | Best Researcher Award

University of Genoa, Italy

Federico Briatore is a dynamic researcher and consultant from Italy, specializing in Industry 4.0, Artificial Intelligence, and Healthcare. With a strong background in engineering and business administration, he has worked on optimizing industrial processes, implementing AI-driven solutions, and advancing digital transformation in various sectors. His expertise spans economic analysis, digital transformation, predictive modeling, and automation. Federico has also contributed significantly to academia with numerous research publications in top-tier journals and conferences.

Publication Profile

🎓 Education

Federico holds a Ph.D. in Engineering of Models, Machines, and Systems for Energy, Environment, and Transportation (expected in 2025). He has also earned a Master’s Degree (Level II) in Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain, an MBA (Level II) with honors, and a Master’s Degree in Management Engineering. Additionally, he is a certified engineer in both the Industrial and Information sectors. His educational foundation is further strengthened by a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial and Management Engineering and a High School A-level diploma in Administration, Finance, and Marketing.

💼 Experience

Federico has extensive experience across multiple industries, including consultancy roles at Regione Liguria, Covim SPA, and OM3 Engineering SRL, where he optimized production processes and digital transformation strategies. His expertise in AI was further honed at Metakol S.r.l., where he trained AI models for insurance fraud detection and maritime forecasting. He has also served as a high school professor, teaching Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics. His work spans market analysis, financial statement analysis, process optimization, and AI-driven solutions for industrial and healthcare applications.

🏆 Awards and Honors

Federico has been recognized for his academic excellence, securing 110/110 in his Master’s degrees and an MBA with honors (110 con lode/110). His innovative projects in Industry 4.0 and Healthcare AI have been acknowledged through publications in prestigious journals and conferences. His engineering and technological solutions have contributed to advancements in sustainable supply chains, hospital management, and industrial automation.

🔬 Research Focus

Federico’s research interests revolve around Industry 4.0, Artificial Intelligence, and Healthcare Systems. His work integrates IoT, Cyber-Physical Systems, and AI-driven predictive modeling to optimize industrial and medical processes. He has conducted bibliometric analyses on sustainable supply chains, developed AI models for maritime forecasting, and worked on Engineering 4.0 applications to combat hospital infections and enhance bed management systems.

🔎 Conclusion

Federico Briatore is a multidisciplinary expert in Industry 4.0, AI, and digital transformation, contributing both academically and professionally to technological advancements in healthcare and industrial sectors. His diverse research, consultancy, and teaching experiences make him a key figure in modern engineering and business innovations. 🚀

📖 Publications

Exploring Industry 4.0’s Role in Sustainable Supply Chains: Perspectives from a Bibliometric Review (2025) – Logistics

Advanced 4.0 Bed Management System, embedded with IoT, Digital Twins, and Cyber-Physical System (2024) – TechRxiv

Personal Protective Equipment Management and Maintenance: An Innovative Project Conducted in a Major Italian Manufacturing Company (2023) – WSEAS Transactions on Systems

A Literature Review on Applied AI to Public Administration: Insights from Recent Research and Real-Life Examples (2023) – Book Chapter

An Application of Engineering 4.0 to Hospitalized Patients (2023) – SysInt 2022 Conference

Fighting Hospital Infections with Engineering 4.0 (2023) – SysInt 2022 Conference

Artificial Intelligence for Supporting Forecasting in the Maritime Sector (2022) – Summer School Francesco Turco Proceedings

Engineering Solutions 4.0 in the Fight Against the Spread of COVID-19 (2022) – Summer School Francesco Turco Proceedings

Babar Ashfaq | Manufacturing | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Babar Ashfaq | Manufacturing | Best Researcher Award 

Research Assistant, GiKI, Pakistan

Babar Ashfaq is a passionate researcher and educator specializing in Additive Manufacturing, Computational Mechanics, and Design Optimization. Currently pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute, he has a strong foundation in high-velocity impact on composites from his MS at the International Islamic University. Babar is dedicated to advancing engineering through innovative research and teaching.

Publication Profile

Google scholar

Education

Babar holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences & Technology, where he has maintained a CGPA of 3.50. He also completed his MS and BS in Mechanical Engineering at the International Islamic University, with CGPAs of 3.80 and 3.52, respectively. His educational background equips him with a solid understanding of mechanical principles and advanced manufacturing techniques. 📚🎓

Experience

As a Graduate Research Assistant at the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute, Babar assists faculty with academic and administrative duties and teaches various courses, including Stress Analysis and Additive Manufacturing. He has also served as a Lab Engineer at the University of Lahore and a Visiting Lecturer at the International Islamic University, enriching his teaching and engineering experience. 🛠️👨‍🏫

Research Focus

Babar’s research focuses on Additive Manufacturing and Computational Mechanics, particularly in the development of innovative auxetic structures and the mechanical characterization of 3D printed materials. His work aims to enhance structural performance through geometric optimization and advanced material modeling techniques. 🔬💡

Awards and Honours

Babar has been actively involved in organizing conferences and workshops, including the 2nd International Conference on Modern Technologies in Mechanical & Material Engineering (MTME 2024) and various symposiums on materials technology. His contributions have been recognized through his participation as a speaker and moderator at prestigious events. 🏆🎤

Publication Top Notes

Babar Ashfaq has authored several noteworthy publications, including:

A novel design of mono and bi-cells based hybrid auxetic structures and assessment of their compressive properties. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 2024. Link

Mechanical Characterization of Innovative 3D-printed Auxetic (NPR) Structures: Role of Considering Anisotropy on Accuracy of Numerical Modelling. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 2024. Link

Geometric optimization of additively manufactured hybrid auxetic structures for enhanced compression performance via Taguchi approach. Additive Manufacturing, 2024. (Submitted)

Enhancing Structural Design: Anisotropic Material Modeling for Additively Manufactured Auxetic Structures. Scientific Reports, 2024. (Submitted)

Impact Resistance of GLARE Composites in Aerospace: A Finite Element Analysis of Bird Strike Scenarios. Journal of Advanced Mechanical Design Systems and Manufacturing, 2024. (Submitted)

Danyal Aghajani | Supply Chain Management | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Danyal Aghajani | Supply Chain Management | Best Researcher Award

Ph.D. student/Junior researcher, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland

Danyal Aghajani is a dedicated Ph.D. student at Lappeenranta University of Technology with a profound interest in optimization, uncertainty programming, and supply chain modeling. He holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology and a Bachelor’s degree in the same field from Islamic Azad University. His career spans various teaching, research, and industry roles, reflecting a robust blend of academic prowess and practical expertise.

Profile

Google Scholar

 

💼 Experience:

His diverse experience includes teaching Quantitative Models and Methods in Logistics and mentoring case study courses. In industry, he serves as a human resource manager and has previously worked in project control management and engineering departments. His voluntary work includes contributions to Mahak, a charity supporting children with cancer.

🔬 Research Interests:

Danyal’s research interests span optimization in mathematical programming, uncertainty programming (robust, fuzzy, and stochastic), data science, machine learning, and supply chain modeling in energy and food sectors. He is particularly focused on decision-making under uncertainty and sustainable supply chain design.

🏆 Awards:

He ranked in the top 1% in the Master’s degree National University Entrance Examination among over 10,000 participants, earning a full scholarship in 2016. Additionally, he secured the second rank in a memorizing competition in Tehran in 2010.

Publications

📄 A Sustainable Integrated Model for Multi-Objective Planning of an Agri-Food Supply Chain under Uncertain Parameters: A Case Study – Accepted at Computers and Chemical Engineering, cited by 5 articles.

📄 A Review of Digital Platform and Circular Economy: Opportunities and Challenges for Developing Countries – Accepted at Taylor & Francis, 2023, cited by 3 articles.

📄 AI Implementation in Innovation Processes: An Uncertainty Perspective – In progress, expected publication in 2024.

📄 A Circular Data-Driven Mathematical Model for Multi-Objective Agri-Food Supply Chain Design Considering GIS Method: Stevia – In progress.📄 A Hybrid Sustainable Biomass Supply Chain Design Using ML Algorithms, GIS Methods, and Robust Modeling – In progress.