General Information
Following publication of the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles by the European Commission in 2022, the EU textile ecosystem was called upon to implement significant changes in the way it designs, produces and places textile products on the EU market. Research and innovation is an important tool to realise these changes, as highlighted in the Textile Transition Pathway. To support the textile sector, especially its many SMEs in the implementation of the necessary research and innovation programme, it was decided to launch of the European Partnership Textiles of the Future.
The central vision of the Partnership is to develop and demonstrate new technologies and innovative business models for the competitive manufacturing of safe and sustainable textile products. These products will be made from low-impact functional materials using clean and digitally connected processes within regional, circular, and fully traceable supply chains. This will promote quality jobs, industrial competitiveness, and responsible consumption in Europe.
The starting point for achieving this Vision lies in robust applied research and development focused on innovative technologies across several multidisciplinary domains. In this context, 3 Priority Areas and 13 Strategic Topics have been identified by the European Partnership Textiles of the Future.
• Priority Area I: Sustainable materials & clean processes
o Strategic Topic 1: Sustainable bio-based feedstock
o Strategic Topic 2: Sustainable fibres
o Strategic Topic 3: Sustainable textile chemistry
o Strategic Topic 4: Resource efficient processes
o Strategic Topic 5: Efficient end-of-life sorting, separation & recycling
• Priority Area II: Digital supply chains & new business models
o Strategic Topic 6: Digitalisation of the textile value chain
o Strategic Topic 7: Sustainability & Circular Data Management
o Strategic Topic 8: Design for sustainability & circularity
o Strategic Topic 9: Circular business models & value - added customer and end -user services
• Priority Area III: Advanced manufacturing & high - performance textiles
o Strategic Topic 10: Automated and AI -supported smart manufacturing
o Strategic Topic 11: On demand digital and networked manufacturing
o Strategic Topic 12: Safe & sustainable materials for technical applications
o Strategic Topic 13: (Multi)functional materials for technical applications
The Textiles of the Future Partnership is formalised through a MoU for a Co-programmed European Partnership. The main governance body of the Partnership is the Partnership Board composed of representatives of the relevant services of the European Commission and representatives of the private stakeholders, the latter of which being nominated by Textile ETP (The European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing (Textile ETP). The European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing (Textile ETP) was created to match research and innovation needs and priorities of the European industry (represented by companies, associations, and clusters) with the knowledge, scientific and technological capacities of universities, research organisations and technology developers to raise the sector’s competitiveness through intensified collaborative research and innovation.
It is the responsibility of Textile ETP as private sector lead of the Partnership to ensure that a broad spectrum of stakeholders from the European textile ecosystem remains actively engaged in the activities of the Partnership throughout the entire implementation period. Through its broad membership base, the Textile ETP aims to represent the research and innovation interests of the entire manufacturing value chain from fibres to final textile-based products as well as directly allied industries.
You can access Textile ETP members via the link https://www.textile-platform.eu/our-members.
The information on this page is compiled from the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda of the Textiles of the Future Partnership and the Textile ETP website.
