IntertechPira has announced the agenda for the 8th annual Smart Fabrics 2012 conference which includes speakers from Adidas, M.I.T., Nike and Philips Lighting.

The scheduled presenters for Smart Fabrics 2012 include:

• Dr. Vicki A. Barbur, VP Research and Development, M-Segment, Cardinal Health
• Stacey Burr, VP Wearable Sports Electronics, adidas
• Hap Klopp, Chairman, Cocona Fabric
• Stian Ueland, PhD Candidate, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Leon van de Pas, General Manager Large Luminous Surfaces, Philips Lighting
• Brian Russell, CEO, Zephyr Technology Limited
• Patrick Williams, Apparel Innovation, Nike  

The complete agenda can be viewed on the conference website, www.smartfabricsconference.com Leaders from the textile, fashion and electronics industries, as well as from leading academic institutions and government agencies, will gather April 17-19, 2012, at the Conrad Miami Hotel in Miami, Fla., to discuss the evolving needs and opportunities in the smart fabrics industry.

"The program for Smart Fabrics 2012 will cover new and emerging wearable technologies, as well as best practices for integrating them into textiles," said Barbara Rojas, Conference Director, IntertechPira.

"Our expert panel of speakers will also examine market trends, recent developments in applications, and ways to more effectively move smart fabric technology into the mainstream." In addition to the two-day conference, there will also be two pre-conference workshops held on Tuesday, April 17. The first half-day workshop, led by Raymond The of Lowenstein Sandler, will provide attendees with a financial overview of the industry.

The second workshop, Electronic Textile Interface Swatch Book, will be a full day and is being run by Clint Zeagler, Instructor/Researcher, School of Industrial Design at Georgia Tech. The workshop will be interactive, allowing participants to work on concepts and prototyping with the assistance of additional workshop instructors from Georgia Tech, Parsons The New School for Design and University of Colorado in Boulder.

Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities will be available, including during the hosted luncheons, breaks and receptions, which will be held throughout the duration of the conference. Please contact Brian Santos at +1 207 781 9618 or [email protected]  if you are interested in learning more about becoming a sponsor or exhibitor.

IntertechPira provides events, market research, publications, strategic and technical consulting to niche, emerging and high growth industries. Market coverage includes lighting and displays, alternative energy, home and personal care, industrial biotechnology, performance materials and chemicals. IntertechPira is a division of Pira International.