The Textile Competence Center (TCCV) of the University of Innsbruck in Dornbirn, Vorarlberg is being expanded. (Image: University of Innsbruck)
The Vorarlberg textile competence center TCCV in Dornbirn, founded four years ago, is being expanded further. As part of the COMET program, the federal government is funding the research center for innovative textiles in Dornbirn, which is managed by the University of Innsbruck, with a further 1.2 million euros; the state of Vorarlberg will contribute over 600,000 euros over the next four years.
The aim of the TCCV² project is to establish an internationally visible textile research center in the heart of Europe and to promote cooperation between business and science.
The Textile Competence Center Vorarlberg (TCCV) in Dornbirn, Austria, pools the work of science and business, with experts developing new technologies here. This cooperation is now to be strengthened: The TCCV is being expanded. Around 4.2 million euros are available for the TCCV² project.
TCCV-Leader Tung Pham
Since 2017, the Research Institute for Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics at the University of Innsbruck in Dornbirn has housed the Textile Competence Center Vorarlberg (TCCV). After the approval of the COMET project TCCV2, this research center will now be continued and expanded. Around 4.2 million euros will be available for this over the next four years. In addition to federal and state funds, around half of the funds come from participating companies. “TCCV2 is an important step towards establishing an internationally visible textile research center in the heart of Europe,” says Tung Pham, head of the Research Institute for Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics and the Textile Competence Center Vorarlberg. “Here in Dornbirn we combine excellent academic research in materials science and the chemistry of textiles with the practical experience of companies and developing new programs from this.
Regionally effective and internationally visible
Through the targeted integration of international partners with specific expertise, the existing research center is now being expanded and given an even stronger international focus. In addition to numerous domestic companies, companies and scientific partners from abroad (Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain) are also involved. The universities and companies are jointly researching innovative textiles, high-performance textile materials, e-textiles and textile-based energy storage and sensor systems. In addition, the TCCV2 research center places particular emphasis on sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies and products. Reuse, recycling, circular economy and bio-based products are key research topics. “The further development of this successful competence center with the support of the federal government and the state of Vorarlberg will further strengthen the textile research location Vorarlberg and make it a beacon of textile technology that can be seen throughout Europe “, Tilmann Märk, Rector of the University of Innsbruck, is convinced.” My thanks go to the successful team around Tung Pham and Thomas Bechtold, as well as the numerous cooperation partners in the region and beyond. Together we are on the way to establishing an internationally unique competence center here in the long term. “The companies in the region, which are closely involved in the work of the research center, will also benefit from this.
Pioneer in textile research
“The aim of the TCCV2 competence center is to conduct cutting-edge research in the field of intelligent textiles. The center is one of the most important research institutions in Europe in this special area and a pioneer in textile research,” said Marco Tittler, the Vorarlberg Regional Economic Councilor. “One thing is clear: the research intensity in the state will continue to increase with the new project that has now been approved,” says the state council. In mid-November, funding for seven new top research projects with a total of over 10 million euros was announced as part of the COMET program. The program is sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology.
