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12 - 13 June 2008 | Berlin
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Conference brochure
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Program information
Supporting organizations
PRESS RELEASE June 27, 2008
IFAI's Advanced Textiles Conference 2008 hosts attendees from 14 countries
- Animated debates and bilateral entrepreneur discussions branded the event
- Smart Textiles featuring nine "intelligent outfits" emphasized innovation
 IFAI's Advanced Textiles Conference 2008
held in Berlin, Germany, June 12 -13, 2008, drew nearly 100 attendees
from 14 countries--some from as far away as Saudi Arabia.
The premier conference was conceived as a
U.S.-European entrepreneur networking event to create new business
opportunities by fostering bilateral and cross- sectoral cooperation
and strategic partnerships.
Conference topics included a roster of the most talked-about fields of innovation in the technical textile industry such as:
Future and
sustainability, nanotechnologies and embedded
high-tech, high-performance textiles for architecture and lightweight
structures and innovative applications in protective clothing.
 The
SmartTextiles community was represented by eight member company
exhibits and a prototype--the yellow coat of the University of
Ghent--that demonstrated the use of textile materials for an antenna.
- Xybermind GmbH showed an intelligent walk analysis-system
- Sunload GmbH presented the latest version of solar bags, a transportable mini power station to reload electronic equipment
- Pierre Cardin was part of the exhibition with a solar cell jacket as energy source for pda or mp3 players, mobile phones, etc.
- Jack Wolfskin featured an intelligent weather-protective
alpine jacket and WarmX knitted underwear with integrated warm-up
technology.
 Three prominent keynote speakers spoke on bilateral
issues:
Luis Filipe Girão (at left), Head of Unit, Directorate Enterprise & Industry, European Commission;
Jonathan Bensky, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs, U.S. Mission to the European Union, U.S.
Department of Commerce; and
Maria D'Andrea, Supervisor, Eastern Hemisphere - Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce.
The conference created a truly unique dialog between entrepreneurs,
touching upon their specific requirements and sectoral impediments.
Global players like Lenzing, TenCate, Philips, Dow Corning,
Hollingsworth & Vose as well as small and medium-sized companies,
like Mectex from Italy, Texbor from Spain, and Textronics from the
U.S., shared their innovation processes and new technology options with
the audience, initiating animated debates.
According to IFAI President Stephen Warner, a
special survey conducted onsite reported that the majority of the
attendees had been highly satisfied with the quality and topics of the
program. "We appreciate the positive response from the audience and the
supporting associations. They have endorsed holding this meeting forum
on a regular basis and developing it further. IFAI will announce its
plans for the Advanced Textiles Conference 2009 in the coming months.
Based on the enthusiasm expressed by conference attendees, we are
considering a return to Frankfurt; as well as other potential locations
in Europe, Asia and North America. |
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