ITMA 2015 visitors will be able to learn about the latest research and development projects from 43 presenters at the Speakers Platform. The presenters hail from 17 of the 39 leading institutions taking part in the Research & Innovation Pavilion.

The 20-minute presentations will focus on three key themes: sustainable innovations, achievements in innovation and technical textiles applications. “ITMA provides the impetus to research institutes and textile machinery manufacturers to develop breakthrough materials and sustainable innovations which are critical for textile and garment manufacturers to stay competitive,” said Dr Jeroen Vits, Secretary General of SYMATEX, and Chairman of CEMATEX's research workgroup.

“The ITMA Research and Innovation Speakers Platform is an excellent area where ITMA visitors can be the first to pick up the latest innovations from the world's leading institutions.”

Sustainable innovations

A number of papers to be delivered will feature innovations in regeneration and reuse of materials, total or reduced waste emissions, and environmental management. Among them are:

• Development of a Process for Recycling of Blended Fabrics by Marie-Isabel Popzyk, Institut Für Textiltechnik, Rwth Aachen University, Germany
• Biomimicry in Textiles and Sustainability by Tushar Ghosh, North Carolina State University College Of Textiles, United States Of America
• Recycling of Textiles: An Important Challenge by Chiara Besnati, Centro Tessile Cotoniero E Abbigliamento S.P.A., Italy
• Innovative Digital Textile Printing Applications – A Contribution to Sustainability and Customisation by Michael Korger, Hochschule Niederrhein, Germany
• Corporate Environmental Management for the Textile Sector by Albachiara Boffelli, Università Degli Studi Di Bergamo, Italy

Achievements in innovation and technical textiles applications

Papers within these two themes cover topics such as smart textiles and wearable technology, advanced materials and composites, and sports industry applications:

• Textiles for Health Monitoring by Marco Silvestri, Universita' Degli Studi Di Parma, Italy        
• Developing Innovative Integrated Smart Textile Applications through Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration by Frances Joseph, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
• Comfort for Sportswear: An Essential Performance by Marco Beia, Centro Tessile Cotoniero E Abbigliamento S.P.A., Italy    
• Innovative Textile Technologies for Thermoplastic Composite Material by Francois Boussu, Ecole Nationale Supérieure Des Arts Et Industries Textiles, France      

2BFUNTEX Final Conference

The Speakers Platform will be held at the Research & Innovation Pavilion from 15-17 November and will also feature the 2BFUNTEX Final Conference on Technology Transfer of Functional Textile Innovations.

The conference on 14 November will showcase successful cases of effective technology transfer between research and industry, with a special focus on antimicrobial textiles, smart textiles, nanotechnologies, flame retardancy, biotechnology, electrospinning, plasma, sustainable textiles and other functional textiles. Two winners of this year's 2BFUNTEX technology competition will also give their presentations at the event.

The conference is organised within the European Commission FP7 NMP Coordination Action aimed at exploiting the untapped potential in functional textile structures and textile related materials.

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