Technology and human capital at the heart of change in the fashion, beauty and travel sectors: over 800 leaders gathered to design tomorrow

In a world undergoing ever more rapid and profound changes, the fourth edition of the Lifestyle Innovation Day brought a wave of reflection, comparison and vision to the LAC in Lugano. A crucial event for those who, in the sectors fashion, beauty e travel, finds itself having to face new challenges and radically rethink strategies and growth models.

The common thread running through the entire day was the “triple engine of innovation”: technology, investments e people. Fundamental elements to face a present shaken by revolutions in artificial intelligence, sustainable changes in consumer behavior, increasingly transversal competition and global geopolitical instability. In this context, managers and key players in the lifestyle industry are called to review their priorities, focusing on adaptability, connections and collaboration.

"In Dagorà we believe that a crisis can generate growth, starting from the sharing of knowledge and connections", he has declared Charles Terreni, President and Member of the Board of Directors of Dagorà Lifestyle Innovation Hub. Adding:

“The Lifestyle Innovation Day is a concrete example of how we foster these connections, bringing together over 800 Swiss and international leaders, entrepreneurs and investors who believe in collaboration as the engine of true progress. The event paves the way for bold conversations on the reinvention of retail, sustainable fashion, innovation in cosmetics and global growth in trade and travel.”

This edition has just ended, but we are already looking ahead: partners, speakers and members of the community are expected for the Lifestyle Innovation Day 2026, scheduled for 18 May of the 2026.

Innovation is not enough, as vision, resources and alliances are needed

To overcome current challenges and disrupt the status quo, it is essential a solid alliance between visionary entrepreneurs and investors – public and private – ready to bet on bold and transformative ideas. Innovation and capital are not separate elements: they must act in synergy to fuel growth, especially in a complex and constantly evolving sector such as lifestyle.

A concrete example of this synergy comes from Innosuisse, the Swiss agency for the promotion of innovation, represented at LID 2025 by Emile Dupont, Team Leader Knowledge & Technology. Through Dimpora's story, Dupont illustrated the key role of support and financing behind growth:

“Our goal at Innosuisse is to provide innovators with the tools to turn their idea into reality and to convert innovation projects into business growth. We offer project financing, but also mentoring for innovative SMEs, coaching for start-ups and networking opportunities on topics ranging from sustainability to big data, from agriculture to fashion and lifestyle”

Dr. also intervened to confirm the impact of this approach. Anna Beltzung, CTO and co-founder of Dimpora AG:

“It is extremely gratifying to share how this collaboration between Dimpora and Innosuisse has transformed an ambitious idea into a real and growing company. After six years of commitment and dedication, our membranes today offer high-performance, circular and PFAS-free climate protection for the fashion, lifestyle and outdoor sectors”

A precious energy that is also reflected in the increasingly central role of the Ticino as a European hub of LifestyleTech, a meta-sector that combines fashion, travel, beauty, food and design with technology, research and investments. It is precisely this ability to attract extraordinary people, bring them together under the same roof and trigger strategic collaborations that is making Lugano a true Lifestyle Innovation Hub of international scope.

Human Talent and AI: The Combination That Accelerates Change

Behind every successful transformation there are people capable of connecting ideas, inspiring change and transforming uncertainty into opportunity. It is thanks to these figures that innovation takes shape, especially today, in an era in which digital minds are rethinking their companies through one of the most disruptive technologies available: theartificial intelligence.

This is demonstrated by North Sails, a historic brand that is modernizing its activities thanks to a targeted use of AI. These are the words of the CEO Victor Duran:

“With our digital strategy team, we are adopting AI to scale our business and increase profitability. With the right people and the right technology, we are improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our business”

Precisely to enhance this synergy between human talent and technological solutions, occasions like the Lifestyle Innovation Day become fundamental: moments of discussion in which to share knowledge, face the challenges of the present and build tomorrow's solutions together.

Where the future takes shape: the constant role of Dagorà

A make possible all this è Dagora Lifestyle Innovation Hub, reality and revolutionize the interaction between le companies of the sector promoting business networking e developing a Community dynamic di C-level executive e decision-macro. Through un model based su membership.

Dagora connects manager di high level for inspire innovation e to ease la sharing di knowledge since IT world; of the lifestyles. situated in Through which channels you reach those people, classic and out of the box. Fairy 21b, il his hub a Lugano è a space collaborative in cui companies, investors, university e institutions si meet for create new opportunity di growth. With events, workshop e Community days active in all la Switzerland, Dagora therefore stimulates la creativity e offer le connessioni needed for far growing up companies e projects. An mission clear: support la transformation industry lifestyle joining technology, capital is - above all - le people.

Dagorà's central role in this process was also confirmed by President Carlo Terreni during the institutional meeting promoted together with the City of Lugano and the Switzerland Innovation Park Ticino – Lifestyle Tech Competence Center (SIP-TI-LTCC), during which the main joint initiatives planned for 2025 were announced. In his speech, Terreni reiterated commitment of the hub since to ease meetings strategic between businesses, IT world; academic e investors, through a programming targeted di events, workshop e organisers' activities di networking. Un contribution determinant which, as mentioned, consolidate la position di Lugano including center eclecticism innovation e polo attractive for a community international di professionals.

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