Call for papers on “Innovative FinTech Solutions for Sustainable Mineral Management: Policy, Technology, and Market Adaptations” (Submissions until August 31, 2025).

Guest Editors:

Marcin W. Staniewski, University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw, Poland; m.staniewski@vizja.pl

Muhammad Sadiq, Taylor's University, Malaysia; Muhammad.Sadiq@taylors.edu.my

The global demand for minerals is increasing in response to technological innovation and the transition toward clean energy (Zou et al., 2025 & Shah et al., 2025). At the same time, the mining and natural resource sectors face mounting pressure to operate sustainably and transparently (Goerzen et al., 2025 & Zheng & Huang, 2025). Financial technologies (FinTech), including blockchain, AI, digital payment systems, and smart contracts, offer novel solutions for improving accountability (Tang et al., 2025 & Shah et al., 2025), reducing environmental impact, and enhancing the governance of mineral value chains (Gopal & Pitts, 2025 & Sun & Mehmood, 2025)

This call for papers aims to bring together scholars, industry experts, and policymakers to explore how FinTech can revolutionize mineral management through policy innovations and digital transformation. We invite bibliometric reviews, empirical, and policy-focused contributions that advance the understanding of FinTech's role in promoting sustainable resource use and resilient commodity markets.

Topics of Interest

• Blockchain for Traceable and Ethical Mineral Supply Chains
• Exploring the application of decentralized ledgers to ensure mineral provenance and transparency.
• AI and Machine Learning in Predictive Resource Management
• Using intelligent systems to optimize extraction, logistics, and environmental monitoring.
• Digital Finance for Responsible Mining Investments
• Investigating how mobile banking, crowdfunding, and DeFi support sustainable mining projects.
• Tokenization of Mineral Assets and Smart Contract Applications
• Examining the potential of digital tokens and smart contracts in mineral trading and royalty agreements.
• IoT and Real-Time Monitoring of Mining Operations
• Enhancing operational safety, efficiency, and compliance using sensor-based monitoring.
• Green FinTech and ESG Reporting in the Resource Sector
• Assessing how FinTech tools support environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance tracking.
• Cybersecurity and Data Governance in Digital Mineral Platforms
• Managing risks related to data integrity, privacy, and digital infrastructure in resource finance.
• Reg Tech Innovations for Mineral Compliance and Licensing
• Automating regulatory compliance through AI-driven regulatory technologies.
• Decentralized Finance (DeFi) in Commodity and Mineral Markets
• Evaluating the risks and opportunities of DeFi systems in resource-backed financial products.
• Carbon Credit Integration in Mining and Extraction Operations
• Using digital finance to trade carbon credits and support decarbonization goals in the sector.
• Sustainable Supply Chain Financing through Digital Platforms
• Leveraging FinTech to provide flexible financing for low-impact and circular mining practices.
• Digital Twin Technology for Mineral Lifecycle Management
• Simulating real-time operations and sustainability scenarios using digital twins.
• Cross-Border Regulatory Challenges for Digital Mineral Trade
• Analysing harmonization of digital financial laws for international mineral transactions.
• Mining in the Metaverse: Future Applications and Risks
• Exploring virtual platforms for stakeholder engagement, remote monitoring, and training.
• FinTech Solutions for Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM)
• Designing digital inclusion models for informal mining communities to improve transparency, safety, and economic outcomes.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions and engaging with you at this timely and forward-looking event.

References

Zou, C., Gao, W., & Ai, F. (2025). Strategic Mineral Policies for Indonesia: Enhancing Global Competitiveness, Economic Growth, and Environmental Sustainability Through Innovation and Renewable Energy. Renewable Energy, 122593.

Goerzen, A., Van Assche, A., Zhan, J. X., & Zhang, L. (2025). From the editors: Global sustainability reporting standards and the future of international business. Journal of International Business Policy, 1-12.

Gopal, S., & Pitts, J. (2025). The Intersection of Carbon Pricing, Fintech, and Blockchain Technology. In The FinTech Revolution: Bridging Geospatial Data Science, AI, and Sustainability (pp. 317-343). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.

Sun, Y., Li, T., & Mehmood, U. (2025). Balancing acts: Assessing the roles of renewable energy, economic complexity, Fintech, green finance, green growth, and economic performance in G-20 countries amidst sustainability efforts. Applied Energy, 378, 124846.

Shah, W. U. H., Sarfraz, M., & Yasmeen, R. (2025). Unveiling the impact of natural energy resources depletion on energy industry productivity in top 10 economies: Moderating role of FinTech. Energy, 315, 134405.

Zheng, J., Liu, B., & Huang, Y. (2025). Inhibiting or exacerbating? Digital financial inclusion and renewable energy efficiency. Science Progress, 108(2), 00368504251331897.

Tang, J., Li, W., Hu, J., & Ren, Y. (2025). Can government digital transformation improve corporate energy efficiency in resource-based cities?. Energy Economics, 141, 108043.

Authors should submit papers to the special issue by September 31, 2025 via https://inzeko.ktu.lt/index.php/EE/login

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The Rise of Digital Technologies in Reshaping Economic and Business Activities (Submissions until January 31, 2023)

Guest Editors:
Marcin W. Staniewski, University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw, Poland, e-mail: m.staniewski@vizja.pl
Muhammad Haseed, Taylor’s University, Malaysia
Mohsin Ali, Taylor’s University, Malaysia; University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw, Poland

Digital technologies are electronic tools, systems, devices, and resources that generate store, or process data. New digital technologies (internet, fintech, big data, cloud computing, etc.) are used to digitally collect, store, analyze, and share information, as well as transform social interactions. They create benefits and improve economic efficiency, driving innovation and fueling job opportunities and economic growth.

Digital transformation is already having a massive impact on the world economies. For example, Asia's e-commerce revenues grew by approximately 22% to USD 1.4 trillion in 2020. They are estimated to reach USD 1.9 trillion by 2024. By then, Asian economies will account for 61.4% of the global e-commerce market. IMF Senior Economist Tidiane Kinda stated that Asian countries with higher e-commerce penetration are more likely to experience higher GDP growth. Further, digital technologies enable modern economic activities to be more flexible, agile, and smart.

Though the world continues to gain from digital technologies, fully understanding the digital economy remains a challenge because of its complexity. A digitized economy is not only about fintech, the internet, and big data, but also how these advanced technologies can be utilized to maximize opportunities for innovation, the emergence of new business models and processes, as well as smart products and services. Further, digital technologies allow businesses to sell products and services to the global markets. However, people in many developing economies do not have access to basic online services due to poor internet connection, lack of digital devices, socioeconomic barriers, and so on. To create more inclusive digitized economies in developing countries, there needs to be a deep understanding of issues related to trust, privacy, and transparency.

Digital technologies have the potential to drastically change the economic activities of developing economies. However, despite the vast opportunities offered by digital technologies, developing economies have not yet fully grasped their potential for sustainable development. Inadequate skills development, socioeconomic barriers, and poor ICT infrastructure prevent large populations from engaging in the digital economy.

This special issue will contribute insight into how digital technologies can transform economic and business activities. The contributors to this special issue could suggest policies on how rising digital technologies can be utilized to maximize opportunities for innovation and new business models. The contributors may also suggest complementary policies along with sustainable economic policies to create more inclusive digitized economies.

Possible contributors:

• Researchers interested in digital technologies, particularly in the context of their economic and business activities.
• Researchers interested in sustainable development.
• Researchers interested in the Sustainable Business Performance.
• Stakeholders with research and policy interest in the management of environmental issues. 
• Researchers working in strategic policymaking, particularly concerned with new business development.
• Scholars focused on innovations and ICT.

This special issue is seeking for unpublished, high quality empirical or theoretical research papers on but are not limited to the following topics:

• Innovation and Sustainable Business Performance
• Digital Technologies and Sustainable Business Performance
• Digital Technologies and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Digital Technologies and Sustainable Economic Activities
• Digital Technologies and energy efficiency improvements
• Future perspectives on the development of digital technologies
• Role of Digital Technologies in the facilitation of environmental goal
• Green Finance: Environmental policy and long-run returns
• Innovation in digital technologies
• Sustainable development goals
• Inclusive Digitize Economies
• ICT
• Economic Policy and Digital Technologies

Authors should submit papers to the special issue by January 31, 2023 via https://inzeko.ktu.lt/index.php/EE/login

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Special Issue on Eco-innovation and Sustainable Development (Submissions until September 30, 2022) 

Guest Editors:
Marcin W. Staniewski, the University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw, Poland, e-mail: m.staniewski@vizja.pl
Muhammad Haseed, Taylor’s University, Malaysia
Muhammad Sadiq, Taylor's University, Malaysia; University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw, Poland

Rapid increase in business activities around the globe exacerbates environmental challenges by significantly increasing the demand for energy. Thus, climate change becomes more disastrous. The continuous high-pace business activities further contribute CO₂ to the atmosphere, leading to global warming. Therefore, to address the negative environmental impact, sustainable development is a need of the hour.

Sustainable development has a minimal negative impact or potentially a positive effect on the environment. A business is described as a sustainable or green business if it matches the following four criteria: (a) it incorporates principles of sustainability into each of its business decisions; (b) it supplies environmentally friendly products or services that replace demand for non-green products and/or services; (c) it is greener than traditional businesses; (d) it has made an enduring commitment to environmental principles in its business operations.

In response to greater environmental challenges, companies have become increasingly interested in practices such as eco-innovation. Eco-innovation is often defined as a sum of actions guided by the perspective of environmental impact reductions. Despite the extensive literature on eco-innovation, researchers have so far paid little attention to the study of eco-innovation and its impact on sustainable development. Therefore, this special issue will provide insight on eco-innovation and sustainable development and sustainable business activities.

This special issue will contribute by providing recommendations on how eco-innovation will impact on sustainable development. The contributors to this special issue could suggest policies to identify the least damaging policies for business activities and growth. The contributors may also suggest complementary policies along with sustainable business policies to curtail the negative impact of environmental degradation policies.

Possible contributors:

• Researchers interested in eco-innovations and particularly in the context of their environmental implications.
• Researchers interested in environmental sciences.
• Researchers interested in Sustainable Business Performance.
• Stakeholders with research and policy interest in the management of environmental issues. 
• Researchers working in strategic policymaking, particularly concerned with the environment.
• Scholars focused on energy economics.

This special issue is seeking for unpublished, high quality empirical or theoretical research papers on but are not limited to the following topics:

• Eco-innovation and Sustainable Economic Development
• Role of eco-innovation in achieving sustainable developments goals (SDGs)
• Eco-innovation and Sustainable Business Performance
• Eco-innovation and energy efficiency improvements
• Eco-innovation and renewable energy production
• Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) and Sustainable Business Performance.
• Future perspectives on the development of energy technologies
• Role of eco-innovation in the facilitation of environmental goal
• Green Finance: Environmental policy and long-run returns
• Environmental policy and sustainable business growth
• Environmental policy and eco-innovation
• Innovation in clean technologies
• Emission reduction and Renewable energy
• Environmental policy and environmental tax
• Sustainable development goals
• Eco-innovation and energy efficiency improvements
• CO2 emission
• Green technology
• Role of green finance, green investment, and green energy in the facilitation of environmental goals
• Renewable energy in developed and developing economies and ecological consequences.

Authors should submit papers to the special issue by September 30, 2022 via https://inzeko.ktu.lt/index.php/EE/login