Exploring the future of shipping
`For researchers to make a difference, we need to stay connected to the challenges the industry is facing in the real world´, Professor Haiying Jia says.
Last week, the Bergen International Shipping Conference took place, with a central theme of Coping with Change. The event brought together industry leaders, academics and technology advocates to discuss the significant transformations facing the shipping industry, from advancements in AI and technological innovations to the shifting geopolitical landscape and the increasing pressures of climate change.
shipping remains robust
What adaptations are necessary to ensure that shipping remains robust, sustainable, and competitive in the decades ahead?
One of the speakers at the conference was Professor Haiying Jia from the Norwegian School of Economics, who offered a perspective on global trade, with a particular focus on China’s evolving role.
Haiying Jia is a professor in the Department of Business and Management Science. Her research delves into the sustainable investment practices and big data analysis that are shaping the future of the industry.
Perspectives on China
Professor Jia highlighted the importance of understanding China’s evolving economic development beyond the simplified and often biased perspectives portrayed by mainstream media.
`China is a very big market for shipping. I wanted to offer some context to people from an economic perspective, particularly the ongoing evolution in terms of the state - private penetration and digital economy. The current economic model is shifting from the previous maximizing output to focusing on quality over quantity´, Jia says.
The “external and domestic dual circulation” strategy suggests the government’s policy in boosting domestic consumption, Jia elaborates, because of the high saving rates and the lack of investment opportunities due to the dysfunctional stock market.
`The de-stocking and de-risking needs, as addressed in the current stimulus package, in the Chinese property market will have an influence on the commodity trade demand, and the nation-wide determination on technology development will increase the energy consumption in the country. It’s crucial to understand not just what’s happening now, but also where the future may lead. ´
Bridging Academia and Industry
For Professor Jia, events like the Bergen International Shipping Conference are essential in fostering a productive dialogue between academia and industry. As a member of the conference's organizing committee, Jia sees these exchanges as crucial to ensuring that academic research remains relevant and impactful.
`To provide meaningful input as researchers, we need to stay in tune with the real-world challenges the industry is facing´.
Jia praised the conference’s focus on AI, noting how the conversation has shifted dramatically in just a few years. Where once the focus was primarily on fuel and energy efficiency, AI has now become a central topic.