User Forum SMART TEXTILES

Every year, the SMART TEXTILES User Forum brings together experts from industry, research, and development to explore the latest trends, applications, and technologies in smart textiles. The event offers a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration. In addition to insightful keynote presentations, attendees can look forward to interactive discussions, live demonstrations, and valuable networking opportunities.

Focus 2026: Smart Textiles for Medicine & Safety

Where textiles merge with electronic functions, innovation follows. This combination offers tremendous potential—particularly in medicine and safety. Smart textiles can enable faster, more personalised medical care, enhance comfort and efficiency in occupational safety, and contribute to civil and military security applications.

Trade visitors will gain insights into the latest smart textile products, services, and semi-finished goods being developed for these fields. The organisers—TITV Greiz, Forschungskuratorium Textil, and the German Institutes for Textile and Fibre Research Denkendorf (DITF)—invite you to an exciting, interdisciplinary programme at the Bio-Seehotel in Zeulenroda.

The event begins on 4 March 2026 with a guided tour of the Bauerfeind AG Innovation Centre, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of medical aids. The day continues with a cultural programme and a networking dinner, providing participants with opportunities to connect and exchange ideas. On 5 March, the programme features a series of presentations highlighting innovative applications of smart textiles in medicine and safety, complemented by panel discussions with industry and research experts, offering further opportunities for insight and networking.

Call for Presentations for Startups

Startups are invited to apply for a presentation slot as part of the programme on 5 March 2026. We are looking for innovative solutions, products, or semi-finished goods in the field of smart textiles for use in:

• Medicine and medical technology
• First responders (e.g. fire brigade, police, rescue services, THW)
• Occupational safety and health, PPE
• Civil security, civil protection and resilience
• Military security and resilience
• Related or overlapping areas

Applications must be submitted by 30 November 2025 with the subject line “Call for Presentations – SMART TEXTILES 2026” to akademie[at]titv-greiz.de. All submissions will be reviewed by 15 December 2025, and applicants will be notified of the selection.

Download the Call for Presentations and application form here:

• Call-for-Presentations_Startups_en.pdf
• Application_form_for_Call_for_Presentations_at_User_Forum__SMART_TEXTILES_2026.pdf

 

 

 

The User Forum SMART TEXTILES was established by TITV Greiz in 2012 to link requirements of manufacturers and users of Smart Textiles with potentials of research and development. In the meantime, the user forum is organised jointly with the Research Council of Textiles (Forschungskuratorium Textil e. V., Berlin) and the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) and held at various locations close to potential users of high-tech textiles.

In technical terms, the forum is supported by an international programme committee consisting of representatives from science and industry, which bundles in particular the expertise in the field of Smart Textiles of the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).