#Research & Development

2021-03-18

Leading innovator Borealis files record number of patent applications in 2020

Researchers in Borealis’ Innovation Headquarters in Linz, Austria Photo: © Borealis

Borealis filed a total of 182 patent applications at the European Patent Office in 2020, breaking its own record of 179 in the previous year. With this achievement, Borealis cements its position as a pioneering innovator and industry leader in the fields of advanced and circular polyolefins, mechanical recycling of plastics, base chemicals and fertilizers.

Providing intelligent and sustainable solutions to the challenges faced by society is a core Borealis mission. Patents play a crucial role in safeguarding visionary ideas when developing novel approaches, technologies, and applications.

Borealis' Innovation Head Quarter Atrium and Showroom in Linz, Austria © Borealis Photo: © Borealis

“Re-inventing for more sustainable living is what drives us at Borealis,” says Borealis CEO Alfred Stern. “Breaking our own record in the number of patent applications is testimony to our dedication to creating value through innovation. We will continue to develop new technologies and novel, value-added products that enhance the circularity of plastics and thus benefit society as a whole.”

The 179 patent applications filed by Borealis in 2019 put the company at the top of the European Patents Office national rankings. In 2020 the company was able to top its own record with a total of 182 filings. In sum, the Borealis Group now possesses around 10,000 individual patents or patent applications which are subsumed in approximately 1,200 patent families. The growing number of patents underscores the company’s position as leading industry innovator.

Borealis CEO Alfred Stern Photo: © Borealis

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Aachen Summer School: Textiles become smart through 3D printing and origami

From 21 to 29 September 2026, the Aachen Summer School will transform Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University into a laboratory of the future: over the course of a week, students will use origami folding techniques and 3D printing to develop active textile structures capable of performing programmable movements. This interdisciplinary event combines theoretical foundations with practical prototyping – from digital modelling right through to functional textile prototypes.

25 years of medical devices: ITVP combines experience with innovation

ITV Denkendorf Produktservice GmbH (ITVP) is celebrating its 25th anniversary. On October 1, 2001, ITVP was founded as a subsidiary of the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF), Europe’s largest textile research center. This spin-off company made it possible to consolidate expertise in medical technology and significantly expand production, which had previously been initiated mostly in the DITF’s cleanrooms.

An eco-friendly alternative to fluorocarbon treatments

Protective and outdoor clothing derives its durable water-, dirt- and oil- repellent properties from the application of fluorinated polymers or per- and polyfluorinated low-molecular- weight chemicals (PFCs). The beneficial properties thus achieved on textiles are offset by environmental and human health risks. For manufacturers of sports, medical, protective and automotive textiles, researchers at the Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. and the Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research have developed liquid-applied dispersions and solutions to functionalise textiles without the use of fluorine.