#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.

TCLF: Resilient value chains in times of crises

The textiles, clothing, leather and footwear (TCLF) industry was at the centre of the webinar “Resilient value chains in times of crises”, which took place on 28 April 2026. Global supply chains continue to face increasing pressure, raw material dependencies are growing and economic uncertainties are affecting the entire sector.

Textile climate control system in workwear – exhibition at the 2026 SME Innovation Day!

Conventional protective workwear often reaches its limits during strenuous physical activity. In particular, the transport of sweat and excess body heat poses a problem. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) conducted research on flow-optimized, air-conducting textile structures that enable targeted climate control directly on the body. These structures can be integrated straight into protective work garments. The textile climate control system supports the body’s natural thermoregulation. This contributes to improved workplace safety and comfort.

Elastic yarns to become more recyclable and environmentally friendly in future

On 29 April 2026, ITA student Tobias Dickmeiß was awarded a sponsorship prize by the Wilhelm Lorch-Stiftung for his innovative approach, to replacing conventional elastane with elastic yarns made from thermoplastic copolyester elastomers (TPC). Thanks to their thermoplastic nature and compatibility with typical polyesters used in the textile industry, elastic TPC yarns offer improved recyclability. Furthermore, the use of the melt-spinning process in yarn production eliminates the need for solvents that are harmful to the environment and human health.

Walter Reiners Foundation Prize awarded to three ITA graduates

Sabina Dann, Lukas Balon and Annegret Storm from the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University were awarded the Walter Reiners Foundation Prize by the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) for their master’s and bachelor’s theses. Peter Dornier, Chairman of the Walter Reiners Foundation, presented the awards during Techtextil at the VDMA stand in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

ATCO Hygienics, Uzbekistan, orders baby diaper production line from ANDRITZ

International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from ATCO Hygienics to supply a new baby diaper production line for its plant in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The order is included in ANDRITZ’s order intake for the first quarter of 2026. Commissioning of the production line is scheduled for the end of 2026.

Nico Pedretti appointed as Managing Director Graf Group

As of June 1, 2026, Nico Pedretti has assumed the role of Managing Director Graf Group. With more than 20 years of international industrial experience and extensive expertise in Operations, Supply Chain Management, Finance and Controlling, he brings a broad range of leadership and business experience to support Graf’s continued success.