In line with the European Strategic Agenda for Innovation and Research for the Textile and Clothing Industry with Horizon 2025, AITEX defines its research projects according to these strategic approaches. The Strategic Agenda identifies and describes the most important strategic lines of innovation for the textile industry and its corresponding research priorities until 2025. The Agenda has identified 4 Strategic Innovation Lines, which are essential because of their particular impact on the development of the textile and clothing industry:

I. New high-performance and functionalised textile materials.

II. Advanced manufacturing and digitalisation (industry 4.0) of value chains and business models.

III. Circular economy and resource efficiency.

IV. High value-added solutions for growing strategic markets.

With regards to advanced manufacturing and the digitisation of value chains and business models, AITEX has undertaken research in two lines:

• Research and development of the manufacture of 3D structures using additive manufacturing technology for the creative and health industry sector. 3DTEX

The successful execution of the 3DTEX project is expected to produce the following results:

• Design and printing of honeycomb structures for use as cores in composites.
• Development of dental structures with different materials and printing technologies.
• Characterisation of biocompatibility properties of the resins used.
• Development of PLA compounds with nanographene and superconducting carbon black for conductive filaments.
• Development of biodegradable components printed on textile backing.
• Development of components printed on textile for fashion.
• Development of printed conductive circuits on textile substrates.

The knowledge generated about 3D printing for new applications with innovative materials and substrates has uses not only in the creative industries and health but also in sports, leisure and the automotive industry, among others, providing the textile and clothing sector of the Valencian Community with innovative products and approaches with numerous applications.

• Tools and digital environments for advanced manufacturing.  e-MANIQUÍ II

The e-MANIQUÍ II project created a predictive model for the behaviour of textile materials and their relationship in the virtual simulation of ready-made garments.

This predictive model is based on a library of virtual fabrics organised so as to facilitate the use of virtual garment prototyping, achieving a sufficient degree of realism between the physical and virtual results.

The results of the project contribute to the use of tools and digital environments for advanced production in textiles, clothing and fashion 4.0.

These two projects have the support of the Conselleria d’Economia Sostenible, Sectors Productius, Comerç i Treball of the Generalitat Valenciana, through IVACE.