European Apparel and Textile Organisation
24 rue Montoyer – B – 1000  Brussels
phone: + 32.2.285.48.81 – Fax : +32.2.230.60.54
e:mail : william.lakin@euratex.org
Web-site : www.euratex.org

The European Technology Platform for the Future of the Textiles and Clothing takes further important steps.

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The European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing takes further important steps
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The Governing Council of the Technology Platform at its first meeting approved the Terms of Reference for operation of the platform and decided to set up 9 Thematic Expert Groups to develop details of a Strategic Research Agenda for the European Textile and Clothing Industry for the coming years.
Brussels, 30 June 2005
Following the launch of the European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing in December 2004, Europe’s textile and clothing industry and research community during the first half of 2005 jointly prepared the operational set-up of the platform and established its Governing Council.

This Governing Council composed of 12 high level industry representatives and 3 representatives of the 3 major European industry and research bodies (Euratex, Textranet, Autex) met for the first time in June to discuss and approve the terms of reference for operation of the platform. On that occasion it initiated its main work programme through the establishment of 9 Thematic Expert Groups to develop details of a Strategic Research Agenda for the European Textile and Clothing Industry.

These 9 Thematic Expert Groups will fit within the 3 pillars of the platform, which represent the 3 central concepts with which the industry intends to defend its competitive future position on the global market – (1) the move from commodities to specialty products, (2) the development of innovative fibre- and textile-based products for new application fields, (3) the move from mass production to customisation.
The following expert groups will be established:
From Commodities to Specialties
1. New speciality fibres & fibre-composites for innovative textile products
2. Functionalisation of textile materials & related processes
3. Biomaterials, biotechnologies and environmentally friendly textile processing
New Textile Applications
4. New textile products for human performance (medical, protective, sports)
5. New textile products for technical applications (transport, construction, geotextiles etc.)
6. Smart textiles & garments
Towards Customisation
7. Clothing/Fashion mass customisation (production technologies, supply chain management, logistics)
8. New product design concepts & technologies
9. Full life cycle & total quality management concepts
In July a call for experts for these 9 groups will be launched using the European-wide networks of Euratex, Textranet and Autex. Participation of representatives of related industrial sectors (machinery, chemistry, technical textile users etc.) will also be sought. Experts who wish to subscribe to any of these groups will have to demonstrate their expertise in the respective field and will have to commit themselves to actively contribute to the work of the group including the participation in at least 2 workshops per year. The first round of workshops for all groups should be completed by the end of 2005.

On the basis of this work, a first version of the Strategic Research Agenda for textiles and clothing will be published. This work should ensure that industry’s R&D and Innovation needs and priorities are adequately represented in the 7th EU Research Framework Programme (2007-2013) and will help to respond more effectively to upcoming rounds of calls for proposals under this programme and to build European project consortia of industrial and scientific excellence.
Euratex President Filiep Libeert at the end of the first meeting of the Governing Council, of which he is a member, concluded “This platform should become our main tool to demonstrate to ourselves and to the public that despite many short-term challenges there is a fascinating future for this industry in Europe based on research, innovation and creativity and that we are able to bring together a critical mass of experts and resources to jointly work towards this future. In this project, we cannot afford to fail.”
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About the European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing:
This industry-led initiative will bring together all interested stakeholders: the textile and clothing industry itself, related industries and service providers, the research and education community and public authorities at all levels in a joint effort to map out long term visions and a strategic research agenda for the coming years to support the transformation of this industry into a knowledge-based innovation driven sector.

About Euratex:
Euratex, the European Apparel and Textile Organisation, based in Brussels, Belgium is the representative body of the European Textile and Clothing Industry. For more information about Euratex’s mission, members and activities, please visit www.euratex.org.
Contact: Lutz Walter
Tel : +32-2-285.48.85
Fax: +32-2-230.60.54
E-mail: lutz.walter@euratex.org


About Textranet:
Textranet, the European Network of Textile Research Organisation, headquartered in Paris, France, is a non-profit organisation whose main objectives are the exchange of information between its members and the facilitation of the development of trans-national textile research activities. For more information, please visit www.textranet.net.

About AUTEX:
AUTEX, the Association of Universities for Textiles, established at Ghent, Belgium, is an interdisciplinary organisation grouping together universities with established international reputations in textile education and research. For more information, please visit www.autex.org.

Enclosure: List of Members of the Governing Council