In 2006 the European Retail Academy decided to honor each year one outstanding personality, who beside his/her work as a researcher contributes also by building bridges between theory and applied sciences or via social or cross-border activities.

For 2019 ERA President Prof.Dr.Hallier appointed Prof.Dr.Raekwon Chung/ Nobel Peace Laureate 2007 from Korea. "The nomination of Prof.Chung is a support for a Global House of Harmony based on the integration of Economics, Ecology and Ethics" Hallier stated (Hall of Fame).
 

In China in 2014 the Zhongguancun Industry and Information Research Institute of Two-Dimensional Code Technology (ZIIOT) was founded in Beijing and recognized in 2018 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the Advancing Identification Matters (AIM GLOBAL). An Unified Two-Dimensional Code Registration Management Center (UTC Global) was established in Beijing/China where currently UTC China, UTC Korea, UTC India and UTC Canada are coordinating their global activities.

Dr.Chao Zhang, President of ZIIOT, and Prof.Dr.Bernd Hallier signed a MOU for cooperation. Prof.Dr. Hallier appointed Dr.Chao Zhang to be a member in the ERA Board of Trustees. ZIIOT will be the Chinese Umbrella Organization for the Thematic University Network (Food).
 

Taken the top 10 department store companies in Asia/Pacific Japan is represented by six companies, Korea by three and Australia by one company. The World Department Store Forum will hold its 6th Meeting in Tokyo/Japan in this inspiring environment with the challenging topic "Department Stores' Future in a Megacity" (more Email).

The latest investments in Tokyo under way are from the two Japanese players Mitsukoshi and Takashimaya which both enlarge their stores in the highly frequented Nihonbashi district.
 

In Romania the Academic & Business Partnership organized in Targoviste its 2018 SCM 4 ECR Conference with the theme "Future Leadership and Artificial Intelligence drive Value Networks". More by Prof.Dr.Theodor Purcarea/ Holistic Marketing Management (Email).

In Osijek/Croatia the 18th International Scientific Conference "Business Logistics in Modern Management" was organized. 98 authors from 10 European countries and 49 reviewers contributed to the proceedings, which also have been published in a Reader (see photo). Prof.Dr.Hallier has been member of the Honorary Program Committee. More by Prof.Dr.Davor Dujak (Email).
 

The Chinese President Xi Jinping is aiming to bring his country to the top position as a global innovation center for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in 2030. In Chang Chun, North East China, an International Two-dimensional Code Industry Development Summit was organized to explore innovation opportunities for the commodity circulation. Prof.Dr.B.Hallier was invited to attend as a key-note speaker with the topic of "retail/wholesale as an innovation driver". For Hallier the Two Dimensions Code are "the new rails of the Silk Road 2030".

This high-caliber event was also used to sign a MOU about the cooperation with the european-retail-academy.org/TUN where ZIIOT/Beijing will be the Chinese Umbrella Organization.