Dr Carlos F.A. Arranz PhD, MSc, BSc, FHEA

• Deputy Programme Leader for the MA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Co-lead of the SIG on Artificial Intelligence in Business and Management
• Teaching in a variety of modules in the area of Business Operations and Sustainability, including:
  - Business Creation Project
  - Strategic Management
  - Global Business and Sustainability
  - Sustainability in Business
  - International Business Environment
  - Introduction to Business Operations
  - Future Paths
• Module Leader
• Dissertation Supervision
• PhD Supervisor
• Personal Tutor
• Member of the BOS ECR Network Committee
• Member of the Networks Urban Systems Centre (NUSC) and Connected Cities Research Group (CCRG)

Journal Responsibilities:

• Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Business Analytics
• Editorial Board Member of Social Sciences & Humanities Open
• Guest editor for the Special Issue “Unpacking Circular Economy Capabilities for a Pathway to Net Zero” in the British Journal of Management.
• Peer reviewer for Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Business Strategy and the Environment, Journal of Industrial Ecology, and IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.

Memberships and Panels:

• Expert for the European Union (ID: EX2023D737683)
• Member of the European DIGITAL SME Scientific Committee
• Member of the Group for Research on Organizations and the Natural Environment (GRONEN)
• Member of the Centre for Social and Economic Network Analysis (SENA) – University of Essex
• Member of the British Academy of Management (BAM)
• Permanent member of the scientific committee of the International Conference on University, Enterprise, and Society (UES).
• Member of the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network
• Member of the Impact Scholar Community

Teaching:

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Dr Carlos F.A. Arranz's research lies at the intersection of machine learning, business strategy, and policy perspectives. His work applies advanced data analytics and machine learning to help businesses, particularly SMEs, become more productive, sustainable, competitive, and secure. His research spans four key areas:

1. Digitalization: Investigating internal and external drivers of digitalization, digital and innovation capabilities, and the adoption of emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and big data in business contexts.
2. Circular Economy: Examining the effects of circular economy policies on businesses, exploring the interplay between consumption and production in circular models, and analysing how innovation and financial support impact circular economy implementation. Moreover, he is currently investigating under an EU-funded project (CIRCUBATT) circular economy innovations in the European battery sector.
3. Innovation: Focusing on eco-innovation at regional and organisational levels, including the development of eco-innovation capabilities and the role of cooperation in fostering sustainable innovation practices.
4. Cybersecurity: Exploring cybersecurity capabilities, the relationship between cyber-attacks and investment decisions, and enhancing cybersecurity resilience in SMEs.

Dr Arranz employs a mix of methodologies in his research, combining traditional econometric methods (e.g., regression analysis, structural equation modelling) with advanced machine learning techniques (e.g., artificial neural networks, big data analytics). His aim with this interdisciplinary approach is to provide robust analysis for complex business phenomena, yielding both statistically rigorous and practically applicable insights.

Current research interests extend to emerging topics, including:

• Exploration of regenerative economy models and their implications for business strategy, with a particular focus on how these models can be operationalised within existing corporate structures.
• Development and implementation of net-zero strategies for SMEs, including sector-specific pathways and the integration of digital technologies in emissions reduction strategies.
• The dual role of AI in cybersecurity, exploring both its potential to enhance defence mechanisms and its use in sophisticated cyber-attacks.
• The intersection of digital twins and eco-innovation in product design and lifecycle management, investigating how virtual modelling can accelerate sustainable product development and optimise resource use throughout the value chain.

Dr Arranz is committed to ensuring his research has tangible impacts beyond academia. He actively engages in knowledge dissemination through business outreach, SME collaborations, policy recommendations, and open access publications, with the aim of bridging the gap between theoretical advancements and practical applications, contributing to evidence-based decision-making in business and policy spheres.

Keywords: Machine Learning, Business Analytics, Circular Economy, Eco-innovation, Sustainability, Digitalisation, Cybersecurity, SMEs, Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics.

Key funded projects

• European Union - CIRCUBATT Project (2025): Part of a large-scale multi-institutional EU funded research initiative titled "Circular Economy Innovations for Resilient, Competitive and Sustainable Battery Technologies". This project aims to transform the European battery sector through integrating AI, data analytics, and sustainable practices. UoG leads the exploration of innovative business models, including Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), and the development of cross-industry tools for battery sustainability analysis and AI-driven data analytics. The project spans the entire battery lifecycle, focusing on reducing reliance on critical raw materials and strengthening Europe's position in the global battery market.
• Regional Innovation Fund (2024-present): Co-I for the funded project "Tangible and Intangible Aspects of Socio-Cultural Regeneration: A Study of Engagement of Young People in Greenwich". The project examines engagement with cultural attractions, focusing on diverse demographics including young people and ethnic minorities. Collaborating with local partners, the research aims to inform strategies for enhancing visitor experiences and supporting sustainable urban regeneration. This ongoing study contributes to understanding the interplay between cultural heritage, modern attractions, and community engagement in urban settings.
• ESRC InterAct (2024): PI in the funded workshop bringing together academics and industry experts to address challenges faced by SMEs in adopting Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies. Aimed to bridge gap between social sciences and technology, generating actionable research questions through interdisciplinary collaboration.
• NUSC Small Grant (2024): PI in the funded project to develop a framework for Regenerative Circular Economy Business Models (RCEBMs). Through semi-structured interviews with sustainability experts and business leaders, this project identified key value dimensions, stakeholders, and activities involved in RCE models.
• SAMS Grant (2023): PI in the funded project to organise a paper development workshop to support ECRs in creating impactful publications related to sustainability, circular economy, and net zero emissions. The workshop facilitated multidisciplinary discussions and guidance from distinguished scholars to support impactful publications.
• Impact Development Fund (2023): Secured funding as a PI from the University of Greenwich Impact Development Fund for the project “The effect of Digitalization and Circular Economy integration on SMEs: A Strategic Orientation Approach”, which disseminated the results of the underlying study among business managers and SMEs through (1) a website, (2) a workshop and (3) a good practice guide. The workshop and networking event supported SME adoption of digitalisation and circular economy practices for sustainable growth, outlining actionable recommendations and success factors.
• CCRG Small Grant (2023): PI in the funded project that created three legal indices quantifying and detailing Circular Economy regulatory efforts in the UK and EU. Developed a comprehensive database of CE laws and multidimensional indices across product lifecycles, 9Rs frameworks, and product/process features, enabling granular analysis of CE regulation effectiveness.

Journal Articles:

1.Arranz, C. F. A. (2024). A system dynamics approach to modelling eco‐innovation drivers in companies: understanding complex interactions using machine learning. Business Strategy and the Environment. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3704

2.Arranz, C. F. A., Arroyabe, M. F., & de Arroyabe, J. C. F. (2024). Organisational transformation toward circular economy in SMEs. The effect of internal barriers. Journal of Cleaner Production, 456, 142307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142307

3.Arroyabe, M. F., Arranz, C. F. A., De Arroyabe, I. F., & de Arroyabe, J. C. F. (2024). Exploring the economic role of cybersecurity in SMEs: A case study of the UK. Technology in Society, 78, 102670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102670

4.Arroyabe, M. F., Arranz, C. F. A., De Arroyabe, I. F., & Fernandez de Arroyabe, J. C. (2024). Navigating cybersecurity: environment’s impact on standards adoption and board involvement. Journal of Computer Information Systems, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/08874417.2024.2394440

5.Arroyabe, M. F., Arranz, C. F. A., & de Arroyabe, J. C. F. (2024). The integration of circular economy and digital transformation as a catalyst for small and medium enterprise innovation. Business Strategy and the Environment. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3858

6.Arroyabe, M. F., Arranz, C. F. A., De Arroyabe, I. F., & de Arroyabe, J. C. F. (2024). Revealing the realities of cybercrime in small and medium enterprises: Understanding fear and taxonomic perspectives. Computers & Security, 141, 103826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cose.2024.103826

7.Arroyabe, M. F., Arranz, C. F. A., de Arroyabe, J. C. F., & Fernandez, I. (2024). Digitalization and Cybersecurity in SMEs: A Bibliometric Analysis. Procedia Computer Science, 237, 80-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2024.05.082

8.Arroyabe, M. F., Arranz, C. F. A., de Arroyabe, I. F., & de Arroyabe, J. C. F. (2024). The effect of IT security issues on the implementation of industry 4.0 in SMEs: Barriers and challenges. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 199, 123051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.123051

9.Arranz, C. F. A., Arroyabe, M. F., Arranz, N., & de Arroyabe, J. C. F. (2023). Digitalisation dynamics in SMEs: An approach from systems dynamics and artificial intelligence. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 196, 122880. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122880

10.Arranz, C.F. A., Sena, V., & Kwong, C. (2023). Dynamic capabilities and institutional complexity: exploring the impact of innovation and financial support policies on the circular economy. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2023.3286953

11.Fernandez de Arroyabe, J. C., Arroyabe, M. F., Fernandez, I., & Arranz, C. F. A. (2023). Cybersecurity Resilience in SMEs. A Machine Learning Approach. Journal of Computer Information Systems, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/08874417.2023.2248925

12.Arranz, C. F. A., & Arroyabe, M. F. (2023). Institutional theory and circular economy business models: The case of the European Union and the role of consumption policies. Journal of Environmental Management, 340, 117906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117906

13.Arranz, C.F. A., Kwong, C., & Sena, V. (2023). The effect of consumption and production policies on circular economy business models: A machine learning approach. Journal of Industrial Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13397

14.Perez, C. A., Arroyabe, M. F., Ubierna, F., Arranz, C. F. A., & Fernandez de Arroyabe, J. C. (2023). The formation of self-management teams in higher education institutions. Satisfaction and effectiveness. Studies in Higher Education, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2023.2172565

15.De Arroyabe, I. F., Arranz, C. F. A., Arroyabe, M. F., & de Arroyabe, J. C. F. (2023). Cybersecurity capabilities and cyber-attacks as drivers of investment in cybersecurity systems: A UK survey for 2018 and 2019. Computers & Security, 124, 102954. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cose.2022.102954

16.Arranz, N., Arroyabe, M. F., Li, J., Arranz, C. F. A., & Fernandez de Arroyabe, J. C. (2023). An integrated view of eco‐innovation in the service sector: dynamic capability, cooperation and corporate environmentalism. Business Strategy and the Environment. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3276

17.Arranz, C. F. A., Sena, V., & Kwong, C. (2022). Institutional pressures as drivers of circular economy in firms: A machine learning approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 355, 131738. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131738

18.Arranz, N., Arroyabe, M. F., Sena, V., Arranz, C. F. A., & Fernandez de Arroyabe, J. C. (2022). University-enterprise cooperation for the employability of higher education graduates: a social capital approach. Studies in Higher Education, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2022.2055323

19.Arroyabe, M. F., Schumann, M., & Arranz, C. F. A. (2022). Mapping the entrepreneurial university literature: a text mining approach. Studies in Higher Education, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2022.2055318

20.Arranz, N., F. Arroyabe, C., & Fernandez de Arroyabe, J. C. (2019). The effect of regional factors in the development of eco‐innovations in the firm. Business Strategy and the Environment, 28(7), 1406-1415. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2322

Book Chapters:

1.Arranz, C. F. A., & Fernandez de Arroyabe, J. C. (2022). “The role of organizational capacities in the implementation of circular economy models in organizations”. In Ubierna, F. (ed.) New Studies in Education, Art, and Business for a Diverse Society. Madrid: Fragua, pp. 23-37. (In Spanish)

• BAM2024 – Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, UK (September 2-6, 2024), “Organisational transformation toward circular economy in SMEs. The effect of internal barriers".
• UES2024 International Conference - CIS University Endicott International, Spain (June 7^th, 2024), “Unveiling the impact of AI and sustainability practices on social innovation in SMEs”.
• Cambridge International Manufacturing Symposium - Møller Institute, University of Cambridge, UK (September 21-22, 2023), “Dynamics Capabilities and Machine Learning: Exploring the Impact of Digital and Innovation Capabilities on Digitalisation Dynamics in Manufacturing SMEs”.
• BAM2023 – University of Sussex Business School, UK (September 5-6, 2023), “The effect of Digitalization and Environmental Sustainability Integration on SMEs: A Strategic Orientation Approach” and “The Effect of IT Security Issues on the Implementation of Industry 4.0 in SMEs: Barriers or Challenges?".
• DRUID23 - NOVA School of Business and Economics, Portugal (June 10-12, 2023), “The effect of Digitalization and Environmental Sustainability Integration on SMEs: A Strategic Orientation Approach”.
• DRUID22 - Copenhagen Business School, Denmark (June 13-15, 2022), “Exploring the effect of drivers in the development of an eco-innovation system. An approach from system dynamics and machine learning”.
• BAM2022 - Alliance Manchester Business School, UK (31^st August - 2^nd September 2022), “The effect of consumption policies on circular economy business models: A European perspective”.
• UES2022 International Conference - CIS University Endicott International, Spain (18^th November 2022), “The role of organisational capabilities in the implementation of circular economy models in organisations”.

Seminars and Presentations:

• PhD Seminar - “Bibliometric Analysis Using the Bibliometrix Tool” at UNED, Spain (27^th of July 2023).
• Workshop & Networking Event on Digitalisation and Circular Economy in SMEs at University of Greenwich (14^th of July 2023).
• PhD Seminar - “Artificial Neural Network and Regression Analysis: complementary or substitutes” at Essex Business School, UK (3^rd of June 2020).