"The main goal of the thesis is to explore the important challenge that fashion companies are facing today: how to implement digital transformation and how open innovation can help to achieve it". This is how Verónica Arribas, from ISEM Fashion Business School, who defended the doctoral dissertation entitled "The Role of open innovation for the digital transformation of the fashion industry", defines the purpose of her research.

Arribas pointed out that "due to the novelty of topic and the scarce literature on the problematic", he carried out an inductive subject research in which a theoretical framework was built, divided into three areas: open innovation, digital transformation and fashion industry. 

Two case studies

In addition, the new PhD was based on a real-life experience of collaboration between a high fashion signature and a 3D software vendor to conduct empirical research. The researcher argued that both "have been exploring for several years the digital transformation of fashion through different innovation projects thanks to the use of 3D digital technology."

Finally, Arribas expressed his wish that "the results of this thesis can be considered as a starting point for future research in the area of open innovation and digital transformation in the fashion industry".  

PhD in Applied Creativity 

Verónica Arribas holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from TecnunSchool of Engineering of the University of Navarra, and Executive Master's Degree in Fashion Business Management by ISEM Fashion Business School. The doctoral dissertation has been directed by José Antonio Alfaro from the School of Economics at the University of Navarra. 

The defense court was composed of Elena Gutiérrez, Paula Wachenfeldt, Emilio Llopis, María José Álvarez and Mar Alonso, who awarded the grade of A.

This research is part of the doctoral program in Applied Creativity, promoted by the School of ArchitectureSchool of Communication, ISEM Fashion Business School and the Museum of the University of Navarra, which aims to promote the study and establishment of creative processes in industries and institutions that require this activity skill.