European Commission Announces “Textiles Of The Future” Partnership Under Horizon Europe
Image By Courtesy of EURATEX
An important step ahead to develop an innovation-driven European textiles industry
Brussels, 20 March 2024 – In the fringes of the EU Research and Innovation Days, the European Commission has announced 9 new European co-funded and co-programmed partnerships, including “Textiles of the Future”.
These partnerships will be at the core of the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027, addressing the green and digital transition, and a more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe.
EURATEX has been working towards such a partnership over the last few years. Investing in innovation is a critical component to successfully implement the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles.
We therefore welcome the Commission’s decision, as a very timely measure to help our 200.000 EU textile companies to remain competitive.
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 on sustainable textile products”.
The Textiles of the Future Partnership will be co-managed by the European Technology Platform for Future of Textiles and Clothing (ETP).
With a deep knowledge in textiles research and a vast innovation network, ETP stands ready to bring that partnership into reality.
ETP Secretary General Lutz Walter commented: “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 engage with all stakeholders of the European textile innovation ecosystem to turn this partnership into a success story”
The Second Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027
The Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025-2027 steers research and innovation funding 2025-2027, addressing the key global challenges such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, the digital transition and an ageing population.
The strategic plan sets out 3 strategic orientations for research and innovation investment under Horizon Europe for the years 2025-2027:
Green transition
Digital transition
A more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe
Open strategic autonomy and securing Europe’s leading role in developing and deploying critical technologies are overarching principles that apply across all 3 key strategic orientations.
The strategic plan raises the ambition of Horizon Europe on biodiversity and commits to a target of 10% of Horizon Europe’s total budget 2025-2027 being dedicated to biodiversity-related topics.
This new commitment complements existing targets for climate expenditure (35% over the lifetime of Horizon Europe) and main digital activities (€13 billion over the same period)
About Euratex
As the voice of the European textile and clothing industry, EURATEX works to achieve a favourable environment within the European Union for design, development, manufacture and marketing of textile and clothing products.
The EU textile and clothing industry, with around 192,000 companies employing 1.3 million workers, is an essential pillar of the local economy across many EU regions.
With over €67 billion of exports, the industry is a global player successfully commercializing high added value products on growing markets around the world.
Working together with EU institutions and other European and international stakeholders, EURATEX focuses on clear priorities: an ambitious industrial policy, innovation and skills development, free and fair trade, and sustainable supply chains.
