Artificial-Intelligence-Enabled Innovation Ecosystems: A Novel Triple-Layer Framework for Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Chinese Apparel-Manufacturing Industry

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) in the traditional-apparel-manufacturing sector is accelerating innovation and transformation, as cutting-edge AI applications have been increasingly integrated into the industry in recent years. While China has made outstanding achievements in applying AI in the apparel-manufacturing sector, the adoption of AI by traditional apparel manufacturers has progressed slowly. This study aims to develop a sustainable triple-layer framework of an AI-enabled innovation ecosystem from grounded required AI capabilities and barriers to AI adoption, thereby generating the conceptual propositions for micro, small, and medium-sized Chinese apparel manufacturing. Through semi-structured interviews conducted with 20 organizations, this study qualitatively analyzes interviews with representatives from enterprises, universities, and apparel associations to determine the required AI capabilities and barriers to adopting AI. It proposes 13 propositions within a theoretical framework that addresses barriers and aligns multi-actor collaborations, ultimately forming a sustainable AI-enabled Triple-Layer Innovation Ecosystem Framework. This novel framework reflects the dynamic interplay between external knowledge absorption capacity and a firm’s internal innovation capacity, providing a theoretical foundation for understanding and advancing AI-driven innovation in the apparel-manufacturing sector.