Rural Social Entrepreneurship Development: Network-based Manufacturing System Model

Social entrepreneurship has emerged as a powerful tool for addressing the unique challenges faced by rural communities, driving economic development, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. By combining innovation with entrepreneurship, rural initiatives can empower communities to thrive in an interconnected and competitive global economy. Key areas such as technology, networking, and sustainable manufacturing systems play a pivotal role in transforming rural economies, offering solutions to long-standing issues. These efforts not only enhance the livelihoods of rural populations but also contribute to creating resilient and inclusive communities that prioritize social and environmental well-being. Rural Social Entrepreneurship Development: Network-Based Manufacturing System Model explores the development of social entrepreneurship in rural areas. It focuses on creating interconnected, community-driven production models that leverage local resources, capabilities, and markets to support sustainable development in rural communities. This book covers topics such as environmental science, women in business, and skill development, and is a useful resource for business owners, entrepreneurs, sociologists, regional developers, academicians, and researchers.

Akhilesh Chandra Prabhakar obtained M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He is currently associated with the University of Technology at LAE, Papua New Guinea. In the past, he served as Senior Lecturer of Economics at the College of Business (COB) in Universiti Utara Malaysia for 4 years and formerly served for 7 years as Assistant Professor in economics at Addis Ababa University (AAU), University of Gondar (UoG), Debre Berhan University (DBU), Ethiopia under the UNDP. He is an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Asian Social Science. Dr. Prabhakar serves as Director of Global South Social Networks (GSSN), and a member of Intellectual Networks for the South Centre, Geneva. For the last 25 years, his research has focused on globalization, south-south economic cooperation, trade and technology, entrepreneurship, economic systems, poverty, inequality, and welfare.

Poshan (Sam) Yu is a Chinese-Australian professional with an astonishingly diverse background and an extensive collection of remarkable accomplishments. In the academic sphere, he currently teaches at the University of Victoria Program at Soochow University. Previously, he held the position of an external professor of financial technology and finance at SKEMA Business School. He also serves as a visiting researcher at the Australian Studies Centre of Shanghai University, a guest professor at emlyon business school China, and an adjunct faculty member at George Washington University's master (finance) program at Renmin University of China. As a visiting professor at Krirk University in Thailand and an EU-Asia research coordinator at the European Business Institute in Luxembourg, he brings a truly global perspective to his teaching and research activities. He is a member of the IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia (IPIRA) Network and the Global South Dialogue on Economic Crime (GSDEC), further enriching his academic engagement. His prior role as a casual academic at the University of South Australia Business School has significantly enhanced and diversified his academic portfolio. From September 2020 to February 2021, he held the position of visiting scholar at The Chinese University of Hong Kong on two occasions. His scholarly pursuits are extensive and multifaceted. As an editor for the European Academic Journal (Special Issue) - European Business Institute in Luxembourg, an associate editor for Humanities & Social Sciences Communications (an SSCI-indexed journal), and an associate editor for the International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Social Science, he plays a crucial role in the dissemination of knowledge. He is an ad hoc reviewer for a number of prestigious journals and academic presses, including Applied Economics, Applied Artificial Intelligence, Cogent Economics & Finance, Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies, Journal of Digital Learning and Education, The Singapore Economic Review, ILMA Journal of Social Sciences & Economics, Journal of Environmental Issues and Climate Change, Advances in Global Economic and Business Journal, The Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Journal Collection, Common Ground Research Networks, Imprint - Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Innovative Teaching and Learning, IBT Journal of Business Studies, Journal of Infrastructure Policy and Development, and Innovative Informatics and Artificial Intelligence Research. Moreover, he is an international editorial advisory board member for several edited books such as Advancing STEM Education and Innovation in a Time of Distance Learning (Scopus-indexed), Multidisciplinary Perspectives Towards Building a Digitally Competent Society (Scopus-indexed), Handbook of Research on SDGs for Economic Development, Social Development, and Environmental Protection, and Implications for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in the Blue Economy. He has released more than 12 journal articles, among which 6 are listed as ABDC: B/SSCI. He has also contributed over 52 peer-reviewed book chapters imprinted by renowned publishers like IGI Global, Routledge, and Springer. He has edited 13 books, with 7 English-edited books indexed by Scopus and 6 Chinese-edited books. Notably, the book about Innovation & Exploration: The Development of FinTech in Jiangsu China has received the 14th Outstanding Achievement Award of Philosophy and Social Sciences in Suzhou and the 3rd prize of the 2018 Jiangsu Provincial Education Science Research Achievement Award by Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education. His receipt of four Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) National University Teaching Innovation Awards from 2016 to 2020 and being recognized as a top contender in the same national competition in 2016 led to his appointment as the Institute of Leadership and Education Advanced Development (ILEAD) Research Fellow by XJTLU. In 2021, he received The Outstanding Contribution Award for Industrial Research Development in China, CIE100 issued by Wisdom China Magazine: Beijing. Beyond academia, he is actively involved in various industries. He is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist, collaborating with alumni and senior faculty members from Cambridge University. Additionally, he is a guest financial news commentator on over 30 media platforms in China. In the business world, he holds significant positions. He is a regional partner in China for FasterCapital based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He also serves as vice president at Tinbowah Investment in Beijing and as an honorary vice president of the Belt and Road Blockchain Association. Furthermore, he mentors businesses for AIC RAISE in Coimbatore, India, the Griffith Industry Mentoring Program in Australia, and University College London Innovation & Enterprise. In 2023, he was invited to act as a venture capital panel judge and mentor at 'Y&Archer A Stream 2023' conference in Jeju, South Korea. His research interests are broad and encompass financial technology, regulatory technology, blockchain, web 3.0 in financial services, generative AI, public-private partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, start - ups, family offices, IoTs, supply chain finance, intellectual property, art finance, wine, back-door listing, intangible cultural heritage, and Chinese economy & policy. His extensive experience in international fintech, edtech, startup, social media, and cleantech companies across India, the UK, Australia, Hong Kong, and China is truly remarkable. His three-year tenure in significant leadership positions within the Chinese-Australian media marketing and public relations sector, along with his role as an OzAsia Festival Ambassador in Australia, has exerted a profound influence on his current modus operandi as an academic and business consultant. Additionally, it has considerably broadened his perspective within the international multicultural arts community and enlarged his business network. This multifaceted experience has furnished him with a more comprehensive and inclusive outlook on academia, industry, and research. He is fully dedicated to making substantial contributions in these areas and is keen on furthering his development in the future. Incidentally, Sam has an inclination towards wine, arts, and reading.

Vasilii Erokhin is an Associate Professor, School of Economics and Management, Harbin Engineering University, China. Since 2017, Dr. Erokhin is a researcher at the Center for Russian and Ukrainian Studies (CRUS) and Arctic Blue Economy Research Center (ABERC) Harbin Engineering University, China. In 2018, Dr. Erokhin also joined Key West University (Florida, USA) as an Adjunct Professor in Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, and History of Economic Thought. Dr. Erokhin is an author of over 170 scientific works in the areas of international trade, globalization, sustainable development, food security issues with a focus on emerging markets, developing countries, and economies in transition. His major book titles include Global Perspectives on Trade Integration and Economies in Transition (2016), Establishing Food Security and Alternatives to International Trade in Emerging Economies (2017), and Handbook of Research on International Collaboration, Economic Development, and Sustainability in the Arctic (2018). Dr. Erokhin is a Guest Editor at MDPI Sustainability and MDPI Economies; an Associate Editor at Springer's Journal of Knowledge Economy; a member of the Editorial Review Board at IGI International Journal of Sustainable Economies Management (IJSEM); an editorial board member at a number of international journals and publications. Dr. Erokhin is a holder of the honorary awards from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. He is a holder of Publons Peer Review Award 2018 "Top 1% of Reviewers in the Spheres of Environment and Ecology" for elite contribution to scholarly peer review and editorial pursuits internationally and outstanding commitment to protecting the integrity and accuracy of published research.