Call for Papers

Following the objectives of the "12th Scientific Meeting organized by the Statistics for the Evaluation and Quality of Services Group of the Italian Statistical Society SVQS" (https://ies2025.sis-statistica.it) to be held in Bressanone, Italy, on June 25-27, 2025, this Special Issue titled "Statistics and Data Science for Evaluation and Quality" invites research contributions concerning the statistical evaluation of both private and public services.

As industries and organizations increasingly rely on data-driven decision-making, the integration of advanced statistical techniques and data science becomes essential for ensuring robust evaluation processes and maintaining high standards of quality. The proposed Special Issue aims to explore the critical role of statistical methods and data science in the evaluation and enhancement of quality across various domains and to provide a comprehensive overview of how statistics and data science are transforming the landscape of quality evaluation and offer insights into future trends in this dynamic field.

"Statistics and Data Science for Evaluation and Quality" invites contributions that showcase innovative applications of statistical methodologies, machine learning, and data analytics in the assessment of quality in sectors such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, and services. Emphasis is placed on multidisciplinary approaches that exploit modern data science tools to address complex evaluation challenges.

Papers highlighting case studies, methodological advancements, and novel frameworks that improve the reliability, validity, and effectiveness of quality assessments are particularly welcome.

The subject matters of the contributions cover the following thematic areas (but are not limited to):

• Digital transition

• Official statistics

• E-commerce and digital marketing

• Public administration

• Enterprises

• Food and wine

• Environment and territory

• School, education and training

• Healthcare and wellness

• Finance, bank and FinTech

• Sports

• Justice System

• Sustainability

• Labour market

• Tourism

• Well-being and welfare

• Transport

• University and research

Papers should be submitted via the journal’s online submission system available through the journal homepage here

When submitting please choose the special issue: “Statistics and Data Science for Evaluation and Quality” as the article type from the drop-down menu.

All papers must follow the guidelines outlined by the journal for submission, available at: Submission guidelines

Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication anywhere else, while under review for this journal.

For any questions, interested authors can contact the guest editors.

Kuniyoshi Hayashi, hayashikuni@kyoto-wu.ac.jp

Christophe Ley- christophe.ley@uni.lu

Amalia Vanacore - amalia.vanacore@unina.it

In line with the objectives of the international conference "Sustainable and Socially Responsible Development in the Network of Socioeconomic Relations: The Triple Helix for Sustainable Development," held in Gdansk, Poland, in June 2024, this Special Issue invites contributions that apply qualitative, quantitative, and mix-methods research to explore cutting-edge developments in sustainable urban and socioeconomic development.

This Special Issue, titled "AI-Driven Innovation and Multi-Sector Collaborations for Sustainable and Urban Development,” will focus on the intersection of artificial intelligence, public-private-university partnerships, and sustainable development practices in urban settings. By emphasizing these critical areas, the issue will explore how AI-driven innovative technologies, policy frameworks, and collaborative models can address the complex challenges of sustainable development, particularly in urban settings.

The proposed Special Issue distinguishes itself by incorporating AI as a critical driver of change in sustainability practices that improve agglomeration functioning. Contributions are encouraged to cover a wide range of topics that explore the transformative potential of AI in promoting sustainability, optimizing urban systems, fostering labor market adaptations, and creating synergies between different sectors for a greener and more equitable future.

It aims to attract diverse submissions, including empirical studies, case studies, contributions to methodology, and policy analysis. Key areas of focus will include, but are not limited to:

• AI in Sustainable Urban Systems: Exploring how AI-driven technologies are reshaping urban environments, optimizing transport networks, and enhancing resource efficiency, particularly in smart cities and sustainable mobility, addressing the challenges and opportunities of sustainable urban planning, focusing on integrating green technologies, promoting resilient infrastructure, and ensuring equitable access to resources.

•AI and Triple Helix for Sustainable Development: Analyzing the role of public-private-university partnerships in AI-driven innovation, particularly in sustainability-related areas such as environmental management, urban planning, business models, and economic development. Contributions can examine case studies, collaboration models, and policy frameworks promoting multi-sectoral cooperation.

•AI, Social Innovation and Sustainable Solutions: Investigating new approaches to fostering social innovation in the context of sustainable development. Topics may include innovative AI-driven solutions for urban challenges, community-driven development, and city social responsibility initiatives.

•International Triple-Helix Cooperation for Sustainable Development: Examining global public-private-university collaborations and policy frameworks that support implementing sustainable development goals (SDGs) across different regions and sectors.

This Special Issue will offer academics, policymakers, and industry professionals a platform to present novel insights, engage in meaningful discussions, and explore actionable strategies and business models for advancing sustainable development through AI-driven innovation and multi-partner collaboration. By gathering diverse perspectives and cutting-edge research, this issue aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex interactions between technology, policy, and sustainability, providing solutions for a more resilient and sustainable future.

To ensure the robustness and relevance of contributions, the Special Issue places a strong emphasis on the methodological rigor and diversity of approaches. We invite submissions employing:

1. Quantitative Research: Contributions using advanced AI-based models, algorithms, and tools for predictive analysis, classification, or clustering tasks in urban and socioeconomic contexts. This includes large-scale data analyses, machine learning applications, and econometric modeling to uncover patterns and trends in sustainability and urban development.

2. Qualitative Research: Studies exploring policy frameworks, case studies, and multi-stakeholder perspectives to understand the contextual and institutional dynamics of AI-driven innovation and sustainable development. Methods may include interviews, ethnographies, and participatory approaches.

3. Mixed-Methods Approaches: Research combining quantitative and qualitative techniques to capture both the measurable impacts of AI-driven solutions and the deeper sociocultural implications of their implementation.

4. Novel Methodological Contributions: Innovative approaches to integrating AI technologies with traditional research methods in sustainability science, urban planning, and public-private-university collaborations.

We invite researchers and practitioners from various disciplines to submit their work, offering methodological, research, and practical contributions that address the contemporary challenges of sustainable development.

List of Topic Areas

The Special Issue will cover a broad range of themes related to sustainable development, including but not limited to:

• AI Applications for Sustainable Development of Business Models

• Public-Private-University National and International Partnerships for AI-driven Innovation

• Urban Planning and Sustainable Transport

• AI-driven Social Innovation for Sustainable Communities

• Financing Sustainable Development AI-Projects

• AI and Public Policy Implementation for Sustainability

• AI, Environmental Management, and Smart Cities

• AI-based methods and algorithms for solving classification, prediction, and clustering tasks in urban areas and networks.

Submission Information

Papers should be submitted via the journal’s online submission system available through the journal homepage here.

When submitting, please choose the special issue: “AI-Driven Innovation and Multi-Sector Collaborations for Sustainable and Urban Development,” as the article type from the drop-down menu.

All papers must follow the guidelines outlined by the journal for submissions.

Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be considered for publication elsewhere while under review for this journal.

For any questions, interested authors can contact the guest editors.

This journal offers the option to publish Open Access. You are allowed to publish open access through Open Choice. Please explore the OA options available through your institution by referring to our list of OA Transformative Agreements.