Strengthening global collaboration: Textile ETP presents the SmartX Innovation Hub in Taiwan
As part of Textile ETP’s ongoing efforts to foster international cooperation and accelerate textile innovation, Judith Bosch, Textile ETP Project Manager and Manager of Smartx Innovation Hub, undertook a five-day mission to Taiwan, made possible thanks to the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI). This mission aimed to strengthen connections between European and Taiwanese innovation ecosystems, explore technological synergies, and identify new pathways for collaboration in smart, technical, and sustainable textiles.
Discovering Taiwan’s innovation ecosystem
Throughout her stay, Judith explored Taiwan’s dynamic textile and technology scene, meeting with key companies and innovations that are driving innovation across the value chain. She visited AIQ Smart Clothing Inc., a leader in smart sensing systems and textile-integrated electronics, where she learned about their work at the intersection of materials, electronics, and health monitoring.
On the following day, Judith met with Maeden Innovation Co., Ltd., a company specialising in high-performance conductive materials and smart textile solutions, discussing how European and Taiwanese innovators can jointly address future challenges in this rapidly evolving field.
Sharing the European Perspective at the TTRI Conference
Judith also took the stage at the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI) Conference, held as part of the Textile International Forum and Exhibition (TIFE) 2025 in Taipei. Her presentation, titled “Bridging Innovation: The Role of the ETP and the Smartex Innovation Hub in Advancing High-Performance Textiles for the Smart World,” focused on the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration between research centers, industries, and startups to accelerate innovation in technical and high-performance textiles. She also introduced the Smartx Innovation Hub, our European platform connecting stakeholders dedicated to innovate in the area of high-performance and technical textiles. The session included valuable contributions from other international speakers and co-host of the SmartX Innovation Hub, Daniela Zavec, who shared insights on technical textiles and the challenges facing the global industry.
To conclude the mission, Judith participated in a workshop organised by the Taiwan Technical Textile Association (TTTA) on 25 September, alongside representatives from leading Taiwanese organisations, including:
Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI) – represented by Lee Kuei-Chi (President), Chiu Sheng-Fu (Vice President), and Shen (Deputy Director)
FABTECH Corporation – Henry Huang, Chairman
AIQ Smart Clothing Inc. – Lee Min, Vice President
PILOTFISH Inc. – Marco Heusdens, Managing Director
MAKALOT Industrial Co., Ltd. – Ray, Innovation Manager
Asia Eastern University of Science and Technology – Pan Yi-Jun, Associate Professor, and Lan Kuan-Lin, Associate Professor
LIONGTEX Innovation Enterprises Co., Ltd. – Chiu Shu-Fang and Wu Zheng-Long
Maeden Innovation Co., Ltd. – Liang Zong-Hua, Han Sheng-Yang, and Chen Wei-Cheng
The workshop fostered an open and engaging exchange on smart textiles, high-performance fibers, and digital innovation, as well as the shared challenges and opportunities for collaboration between Europe and Taiwan.
Upcoming webinars in collaboration with the Taiwanese ecosystem will be held under the umbrella of the Smartx Innovation Hub: stay tuned, and become a member if you haven’t yet!
