EURATEX Press Release

European Commission announces “Textiles of the Future” Partnership
under Horizon Europe – an important step ahead to develop an innovation-driven
European textiles industryBrussels, 20 March 2024 – In the fringes of the EU Research and Innovation Days, the EuropeanCommission 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 ininnovation is a critical component to successfully implement the EU Strategy for Sustainable andCircular Textiles. We therefore welcome the Commission’s decision, as a very timely measure tohelp our 200.000 EU textile companies to remain competitive.
Director General Dirk Vantyghem commented: “Innovation is the bridge between sustainability andcompetitiveness. This Horizon Europe Partnership is therefore an essential tool which will help ourcompanies 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 vastinnovation network, ETP stands ready to bring that partnership into reality.
ETP Secretary General Lutz Walter commented: “Textile research has been an integral part of theEU’s Research and Innovation Framework Programmes for many years, but this dedicatedPartnership brings a strategic focus that is critical and timely to help our industry succeed in its greenand 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 successstory”(*) More details on the Commission announcement can be found here.

About us
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 oftextile 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 ofexports, 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 andinternational stakeholders, EURATEX focuses on clear priorities: an ambitious industrial policy,innovation and skills development, free and fair trade, and sustainable supply chains.
Learn more at euratex.eu.
The European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing (ETP) is the largest
European network dedicated to textile research and innovation. Its main objectives are to ensure
the long-term competitiveness of the EU textile and clothing industry through collaborative researchacross national borders in Europe and a rapid translation of research results into industrial
innovation.
Textile ETP counts over 200 member organisations from industry, research and higher education
with a total of over 1500 connected experts.
Learn more at www.textile-platform.eu