Prof. Dr.-Ing., Dr. Eng. Chóngliàng Zhòng

Academic Profile

Prof. Dr Dr Chóngliàng Zhòng is a professor of business administration, specialising in strategic human resource management, at Dresden University of Applied Sciences.
His academic profile combines strategic human resource management, leadership and organisational development with a solid background in engineering, as well as many years of leadership and management experience in research and industry. In his research and teaching, he focuses on how organisations can shape and further develop their human resource strategies, leadership structures and knowledge processes in the context of technological, demographic and societal change.

Academic and professional background

Prof. Zhòng studied at Jilin University and obtained his PhD in Optical Engineering (Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dr. Eng.) and Mechanical Engineering (RWTH Aachen, Dr.-Ing.).
He has over 15 years’ professional and research experience, ten of which were spent in leadership roles. His career has included positions at the Changchun Institute (CAS), the Fraunhofer ILT and RWTH Aachen University. In industry, he served as Global Product Manager for 3D Printing at Laserline and Global Sector Manager for Metals at ZwickRoell. 
From 2023 to 2026, he headed the Additive Manufacturing Department at Fraunhofer IFAM, focusing on strategy, budgeting and collaborations. His expertise encompasses the leadership of interdisciplinary teams, research and technology transfer projects, and the development of national and international networks.

Research Focus and Interests

Prof. Zhòng’s research and technology transfer interests lie particularly in the following areas:

• Strategic Human Resource Management and the Future of Work
• Collaboration between humans and artificial intelligence
• Leadership, Change Management and Organisational Development
• Intercultural Human Resource Management and Comparative Leadership
• Knowledge management and knowledge and technology transfer
• Management of knowledge-intensive and technology-driven organisations
• Sustainability-oriented organisational and management systems

His research has focused on additive manufacturing, laser-based processes and the industrial application of innovations. This has resulted in numerous publications and DFG, EU and industry projects. The combination of his engineering background with his current business administration profile is evident in knowledge and technology transfer, the organisation of innovation processes, and the development of competencies and leadership structures in technological transformations.

Teaching

Prof. Zhòng teaches in a scientifically rigorous, application-oriented and interactive manner in German and English (Bachelor’s/Master’s; full-time, dual, part-time).

His teaching areas include, in particular:

• General Business Administration
• Strategic and international human resource management
• Leadership and management systems
• Organisation and organisational development
• Change and project management
• Management of Social Organisations
• Intercultural Management
• Start-up Management
• Supply Chain Management and Operations

The modules combine theory with practice (case studies, project work) to equip students to shape complex leadership and change processes.
He holds the ‘Professional Teaching Competence for Higher Education’ certificate from the NRW Higher Education Didactics Network.

Publications (selection)

Li, Z. et al. (2026). “Laves phase-induced failure and synergistic strength mechanism via in situ deformation for high-deposition-rate laser directed energy deposited Inconel 718 alloy.” Materials Science and Engineering: A, 149816.

Zhong, C. et al. (2023). “Heat Treatment Design for IN718 by Laser Metal Deposition with High Deposition Rates: Modelling, Simulation, and Experiments.” 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, 10(1), 136–145.

Zhong, C. et al. (2022). “Laser additive manufacturing of Inconel 718 at increased deposition rates.” Materials Science and Engineering: A, 143196.

Zhong, C. et al. (2022). “Development of a novel green coating process using a laser.” Scientific Reports, 12.

Zhong, C. et al. (2020). “Laser metal deposition of Ti6Al4V: A brief review.” Applied Sciences, 10(3), 764.

Zhong, C. (2019). Process control, microstructure and mechanical properties in laser cladding of Inconel 718 at high deposition rates. PhD thesis, RWTH Aachen University.

Third-party funded and technology transfer projects (selection)

Prof. Zhòng led a DFG-funded research project entitled ‘Investigations of process optimisation, microstructure modification and material performance improvement in high-deposition-rate laser metal deposition of Inconel 718’.
He served as a sub-project leader in the European research project ‘Additive Manufacturing Aiming Towards Zero Waste and Efficient Production of High-Tech Metal Products’.
In addition, he was responsible for several industry-funded research and technology transfer projects focused on the development and application of laser-based manufacturing processes, as well as the transfer of technological innovations into industrial applications.

Commitment

Prof. Zhòng is Chairman of the Board and honorary managing director of the non-profit association Gemeinschaft & Zukunft e. V.
His social commitment focuses in particular on education for sustainable development, political and social education, and the training of specialists and managers in social organisations.
Prof. Zhòng is also a member of the programme advisory board of Intec Leipzig (the international trade fair for machine tools, manufacturing and automation technology).

Further information: www.chongliang-zhong.de