AEI Tèxtils focuses its activity in promoting innovation to increase the competitiveness of its members: Catalan companies in the advanced textile materials’ sector.

During the last 2 years, four members of the cluster have developed strategic innovation projects with grants from highly competitive funding programmes: SME Instrument and INNOWWIDE.

Now, the cluster is glad to announce that four more projects from its members will start in the coming months thanks to SMARTEES 2 and INNOWWIDE programs’ support.

SMARTEES 2 is a European acceleration program dedicated to helping innovative companies digitalise their businesses thanks to flexible and wearable electronics testing, experimentation and manufacturing support. 

Within the first call, a total of 10 proposals were selected, being three of them from members of the cluster: C.P. Aluart, Manufacturas Arpe and Polisilk.  Each SME will develop a prototype of a smart textile product, in collaboration with a technology provider.

Furthermore, a project from Hilaturas Arnau was among the 70 projects selected for funding from 600 applications that were presented at the last call of INNOWWIDE programme.

INNOWWIDE facilitates the development of viability assessment projects in order to validate the practical, technological and commercial viability of international, cross-fertilized, innovative businesses solutions along emerging global value chains.

This milestone implies again a new recognition of the innovation capacity of the advanced textile materials’ sector and how can a cluster contribute to the increase of competitiveness of its members.