#Research & Development

2022-04-21

Inditex rolls over the InTalent Programme which will bring 15 excellent researchers to Universidade da Coruña

Inditex is stepping up its commitment to research talent in the university arena with the second edition of InTalent, a programme endowed by the Group with €1.5 million, which will allow Universidade da Coruña (UDC) to hire 15 top-class researchers.

This Wednesday, the CEO of Inditex, Óscar García Maceiras, and the Dean of UDC, Julio Abalde, put their names to the agreement for the rollout of the second edition of the InTalent Programme.

That agreement for attracting research talent, which was signed in UDC's Dean’s Office, entails €1.5 million of funding from Inditex. Thanks to this patronage, UDC will be able to hire 15 stellar researchers during the term of the agreement, which runs until 2026.

The InTalent Programme is open to researchers of any nationality keen to pursue his or her lines of investigation at UDC that are already beneficiaries of the Ramón y Cajal Grants awarded by Spain’s Ministry of Science and Innovation.

The aim is to raise the level of UDC’s research effort and make it beacon for excellent researchers from Spain and abroad and to increase funding for research initiatives.

Six researchers during the first edition

The first edition of InTalent, which got underway in October 2016 with funding of €1.45 million from Inditex, allowed UDC to hire six top-class researchers which it selected from more than 300 applicants from all around the world (194 Spaniards with the remaining 122 candidates coming from Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa).

The achievements under the umbrella of InTalent by Elena Pazos, José Antonio Cortés, Ana Rey, Jorge Ledo, Mónica Ferrín and José A. Iglesias in the areas of chemistry, environmental science and social anthropology, biology, history, political science and computing science generated a return of close to €7 million for UDC, that is, a return of five euros for every euro invested in the programme.

Elena Pazos went on to win one of the most prestigious science grants in Europe - the European Research Council’s €1.5-million Starting Grant - for further pursuit of her research work. The other participants also obtained Ramón y Cajal Grants for finishing up their projects.

“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.

Outdoor Industry Association completes Clean Heat CoLab initiative

The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) has completed its multi-year Clean Heat CoLab initiative, bringing together outdoor brands and technology experts to accelerate the adoption of electrified process heating in textile manufacturing. The collaboration focused on reducing emissions from thermal processes such as dyeing, washing and finishing, which remain among the most carbon-intensive stages of textile production.

Europe is committed to recycling end-of-life wind turbine blades

Starting in 2026, Europe’s wind energy industry has committed itself to ensuring that wind turbine blades do not end up in landfills once they reach the end of their service life. The EU-funded research project REWIND is exploring ways to reuse this composite waste. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) are one of 13 project partners from seven countries.

ADD-ITC 2026 publishes preliminary conference program

The organizers of the Aachen-Dresden-Denkendorf International Textile Conference (ADD-ITC) 2026 have released the preliminary program for this year's event, which will take place on November 26–27, 2026, at the International Congress Center Dresden. The conference is expected to attract between 500 and 700 participants from industry, research, and academia.

Brazil sets new cotton export record and consolidates global leadership

Brazil ended the 2025/26 commercial year with a new record, consolidating its position as the world’s largest cotton exporter. Between August 2025 and July 2026, the country shipped 3,373,941 tonnes of the fiber, 19% more than in the previous cycle, and reached record revenue of US$5.3 billion. The result represents a milestone in Brazil’s expansion in the international market and reinforces the country’s role as a strategic supplier to the global textile industry.

The LYCRA Company expands its co-creation vision through an immersive Lifestyle District at Intertextile Shanghai.

The LYCRA Company, a global leader in fiber and technology solutions for the apparel industry, is reimagining the trade show experience at Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Autumn Edition, which opened today in China. Building on the success of last year's ALL IN concept, the company has expanded its co-creation vision into a 356-square-meter Lifestyle District featuring partners Jingzili New Material, JYT Textile, Lianxingfa Knitting, and Trend Textile. The district is part of a larger 895-square-meter pavilion showcasing a total of 19 co-exhibitors. Together, they demonstrate how innovations in fiber, fabric, and garments can be combined to create compelling solutions for both work and play.

Plastic-free stretch technologies drive new direction for denim innovation

As the denim industry looks for ways to reduce its reliance on synthetic fibres, plastic-free stretch technologies are gaining momentum. Developments based on mechanical fabric construction and natural rubber are demonstrating that comfort and stretch can be achieved without conventional elastane, supporting both recyclability and circular product design.