Textile production

4.5.1. The European textile technology transfer marketplace
The Governing Council of the European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing (Textile ETP) decided, in May 2011, to launch a European textile technology transfer system based on an open innovation and crowd-sourcing approach.¹⁶ The system is entitled European Textile Technology Marketplace, abbreviated as ETTMa. The Governing Council hopes that this system should help European companies interested in the industrial application of novel textile-related technologies to identify potential technology leads quickly, cost-effectively and Europe-wide. At the same time, the system should help European researchers to accelerate the transfer of their research results and technology prototypes into industrial practice in Europe.
The European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing is the largest European expert network of professionals involved in textile- and clothing-related research and innovation. The Platform is supported by EURATEX (the European Apparel and Textile Confederation), TEXTRANET (the European Network of Textile Research Organizations) and AUTEX (the Association of Universities for Textiles). It currently has more than 620 registered experts from industry and academia across Europe. ETTMa has the following specific objectives:
1.
To enable European companies to find innovative textile-related technology solutions quickly, cost-effectively and Europe-wide.
2.
To enable European researchers to accelerate the transfer of their research results and technology prototypes into industrial practice in Europe.
3.
To exploit the power and reach of the European Technology Platform as an effective Open Innovation Platform to mutual benefit of the industry and academic members of the Platform.
4.
To add an additional value adding service to the activities of the European Technology Platform to attract further industrial and academic interest (also beyond the core textile sector) and grow the ETP network.
5.
To accelerate industrial take-up of the results of European research projects.