Professor Yu Xiong CEng PhD is an academic, researcher, and serial entrepreneur with expertise spanning computer science, business analytics, innovation commercialisation, sustainability, and blockchain technologies. He holds leadership roles at the University of Surrey, including Associate Vice President for External Engagement, Chair Professor of Business Analytics, Director of Surrey Academy for Blockchain and Metaverse, and Director of Surrey Centre for Innovation and Commercialisation.
 

He studied computer science at Chongqing University before pursuing a PhD at Nottingham Trent University under the EU Asia ICT Scholarship and began his academic career at York Management School, University of York, with postdoctoral research funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), collaborating with pharmaceutical companies including AstraZeneca.

Subsequently, he held positions at the University of East Anglia as Senior Lecturer, Newcastle Business School as Chair Professor, Queen’s University Belfast as University Lecturer in Operations Management, and currently at the University of Surrey.

His research has been published in journals including European Journal of Operational Research, International Journal of Production Research, and International Journal of Production Economics. Funding sources include EPSRC, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, British Academy, British Council, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, and China National Science Foundation.

Professor Xiong is a Fellow of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and serves as President-elect of the Chinese Economic Association Europe/UK.

His entrepreneurship includes co-chairing Cocoon Global Limited, an innovation centre in London supporting start-ups and SMEs with an investment of approximately $16.3 million. He initiated the first overseas Tsinghua University Science Park in Newcastle, a $7.5 million innovation centre.
 

He has been the company director for ADAPT Group, managing a $62.5 million Low Carbon Innovation Fund, and board director of 99P Recycling Limited, a UK plastics recycling company with a 2019 turnover of approximately $26 million.
 

In blockchain, he chairs the management board of UKDE Limited, a financial services company connecting the UK and China. He is the chief scientist at Jiukuan Tech Ltd, developer of the Pxbee App, ranked No. 1 in daily active users among blockchain applications in China. He serves on the Expert Board of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Blockchain and on China’s National Finance Innovation and Stability Forum.
 

He was appointed director of the London Fashion Fund in 2018, supporting start-ups in fashion. Cocoon Global hosted the UK’s first 5G Exhibition Centre with Huawei in 2019. He advises Yitu Technology on EU strategy.
 

Yu Xiong holds membership in national and international committees, including the All-China Youth Federation and the Chinese Provincial Parliament (CPPCC Chongqing). He has been the Vice President of Chongqing Western Returned Scholars Association since 2009. He has been featured by media outlets including Sky News and the Daily Express.
 

His awards include the May 4th Youth Medal granted by the Chongqing Youth Federation in 2015 and the honour of serving as a London Olympic Torchbearer in 2012.

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