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Research Center for Digital Transformations

The Research Center Digital Transformations investigates how technological innovation drives organizational change and societal transformation. Our research addresses the critical challenge facing organizations and entrepreneurs today: understanding and navigating the complex relationships between emerging technologies, management practices, and social innovation in an interconnected world.

We unite experts from management sciences, entrepreneurship, finance, design thinking, computer science, and social innovation to examine how technological advancement reshapes business landscapes and social systems. This interdisciplinary approach enables us to investigate the multifaceted nature of transformation across organizational and societal contexts.

Core Research Questions

Our research agenda centers on five fundamental questions that define contemporary organizational and social challenges:

  • How do emerging technologies (e.g., AI, augmented reality) create new entrepreneurial opportunities while simultaneously requiring new organizational structures?
  • What specific capabilities must leaders and entrepreneurs develop to effectively manage distributed teams and navigate complex technological ecosystems?
  • How can design thinking methodologies be systematically applied to address persistent social challenges and create sustainable solutions?
  • What role do immersive technologies play in transforming how organizations collaborate, learn, and innovate?
  • How can organizations advance technologically while maintaining ethical standards and fulfilling social responsibilities?

Research Approach and Activities

The research center conducts its work through integrated research projects, strategic industry partnerships, academic publications, and hands-on innovation laboratories. We emphasize the development of both theoretical understanding and practical applications, ensuring our research contributes meaningfully to academic knowledge while addressing real-world challenges.

A distinctive aspect of our approach involves fostering emerging scholars by integrating doctoral students and early-career researchers directly into ongoing research initiatives and collaborative projects. This creates a dynamic learning environment while expanding our research capacity.

Strategic Priorities

Fundamental Research and Interdisciplinary Integration: We bring together scholars from management, entrepreneurship, design, and technology disciplines to investigate digital transformation holistically. Our research examines how these changes affect both organizational systems and broader social contexts, contributing to theoretical advancement across multiple fields.

Applied Research and Knowledge Transfer: Our findings directly inform startup ecosystems, corporate innovation strategies, social impact organizations, and policy development. We translate academic insights into actionable frameworks that organizations can implement to navigate technological change effectively.

Innovation Development and Collaborative Networks: We facilitate regular symposiums, workshops, and cross-sector partnerships. These activities enable knowledge exchange and capability building across academic and industry boundaries, creating networks that extend our research impact.

Mission and Impact

The Digital Transformations Research Center develops theoretical and empirical founded insights and practical solutions for navigating digital change across entrepreneurial ventures, organizational systems, and social innovation initiatives. Our work creates value for academic researchers, industry practitioners, and society by providing frameworks for understanding and managing transformation processes.

Through our integrated research agenda, we contribute to shaping digital change that is sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven, addressing the complex challenges organizations face.

Members of the Research Center:

The following Professors and Senior Researchers from the German UDS, along with their scientific collaborators and PhD students, are affiliated with the Research Center for Digital Transformations

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