With the ETP’s deep knowledge of textiles research and large innovation network being leveraged in supporting the Textile of the Future initiative, the EU Commission believes the ETP “stands ready to bring that partnership into reality.”
The European Apparel and Textile Confederation (Euratex) said the Commission's decision to initiate this partnership comes at a crucial juncture, offering vital support to the 200,000 EU textile companies striving to maintain their competitiveness.
Euratex has been championing similar partnerships in recent years, as says it believes “innovation is a critical component to successfully implement the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles.”
As part of the EU Research and Innovation Days, the Commission’s latest innovations are central to the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027, which aims to promote the green and digital transition, fostering a more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe.
Euratex's Director General Dirk Vantyghem commented: “Innovation is the bridge between sustainability and competitiveness. This Horizon Europe Partnership is therefore an essential tool which will help our companies to become global leaders in sustainable textile products.”
Lutz Walter, secretary general of ETP, hailed the strategic focus of the initiative and said: “Textile research has been an integral part of the EU’s Research and Innovation Framework Programmes for many years, but this dedicated Partnership brings a strategic focus that is critical and timely to help our industry succeed in its green and digital transformation and reinforce Europe’s global leadership role in textile research, technology development and higher education.
“ETP is looking forward to engaging with all stakeholders of the European textile innovation ecosystem to turn this partnership into a success story.”
