Internationalisation

AI and decision-making in high-tech firms

Researchers from the University of Glasgow's Adam Smith Business School and Nankai University are collaborating on research exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming strategic decision-making in high-tech businesses. Bringing together shared expertise and mutual research interests, the team is investigating how AI can help organisations make decisions. Research that has a current, important impact on stakeholders and our society.

Complementary expertise

"As a strategic partner, Nankai University has been important to the growth and further development of UofG internationally. Glasgow Global Partnerships Fund is instrumental in strengthening this partnership by deepening research collaborations and producing important outputs. I am glad to see that the collaboration has been pleasant, enriching and productive with longer-term prospects."            

Researchers from the University of Glasgow and Nankai University bring together a diverse range of expertise and complementary skills. Dr Wei Yang specialises in firm strategy and decision making. Professor Bowei Chen is an expert in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and their applications in business. Professor Hui Xu, of the International Business School at Nankai University, specialises in marketing in high tech firms and has extensive experience developing case studies based on real world business challenges.

The team has collaborated since 2025, strengthening research links through visits between Nankai University and the University of Glasgow and building a productive international partnership. Supported by a 2025–26 Glasgow Global Partnerships Fund (GGPF) award, further visits helped deepen collaboration on the shared research theme of AI and decision-making in high tech firms. By combining expertise in strategy, AI, machine learning and marketing, the team is well placed to explore how AI can support business decision making, enhance firm performance and create value for organisations.

Advancing research with Nankai University

To further develop the research, Dr Wei Yang and Professor Bowei Chen from the Adam Smith Business School undertook reciprocal visits with colleagues at our strategic partner institution, Nankai University Business School, supported by funding from the University's Glasgow Global Partnerships Fund (GGPF). The visits were designed to strengthen research links and advance a joint project exploring the role of AI in decision-making within high-tech firms.

In December 2025, Professor Bowei Chen visited Nankai University Business School, where he delivered a series of research talks on the application of AI in business analytics to academic staff and students. During his visit, he also met with colleagues from the Department of Marketing and the Department of Management Science and Engineering to discuss shared research interests and explore opportunities for future collaboration.

This was followed by Dr Wei Yang's visit in May 2026. During her time at Nankai, she delivered a range of research talks and guest lectures on topics including geopolitics and international business, firm competitive strategy, and the use of big data in management research. She also engaged with various faculty members and discussed topics such as future funding applications, academic exchanges, and case study writing. 

Strengthening long term connections

The collaboration has already led to a number of significant achievements. During her visit to Nankai University, Dr Wei Yang was awarded the title of Visiting Professor by the China Corporate Governance Centre at Nankai University Business School and was invited to continue visiting the institution on a regular basis.

The partnership has also generated new opportunities. Dr Wei Yang and Professor Bowei Chen were invited to serve as Co-Investigators alongside Professor Hui Xu on a National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) grant application submitted in March 2026. In addition, the three researchers collaborated on a conference paper that was presented at the Academy of International Business (AIB) Annual Conference in Manchester in July 2026, further strengthening the research links between the University of Glasgow and Nankai University.

These activities have further strengthened the partnership between the Adam Smith Business School and Nankai University Business School, laying the foundation for enhanced academic collaboration and joint research in the years ahead.