In 2025, the European Commission launched a new European co-funded and co-programmed partnership “Textiles of the Future”. This partnership is at the core of the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027, addressing the green and digital transition, and a more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe.
As a Think Tank and Advocate, Textile ETP co-manages the "Textiles of the Future" partnership and developed the Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda (SRIA), which will guide the dedicated calls for proposals under Cluster 4 of the Horizon Europe programme between 2025 and 2027.
The collaborative projects funded through these calls will involve industry players, with a focus on SMEs, alongside research and technology organisations, universities, and other stakeholders. The aim is to focus on higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) to ensure the rapid deployment of developed solutions at an industrial scale within the European textile sector.
In the initial phase (2025-27), at least €60 million will be allocated by public and private stakeholders to core research and innovation actions. This funding will be supplemented by additional public and private investments from various EU, national, and regional programs, and investors. These funds will support accelerated exploitation actions, including demonstration, pilot testing, new manufacturing facility setups, early market replication, and start-up creation.
Textiles of the Future
European Partnership under Horizon Europe
Textile ETP will coordinate community building, project and technology brokerage, and communication and dissemination activities with its members. These members-only activities will ensure that project results, new technologies, knowledge, and best practices are quickly disseminated within the EU textile ecosystem and beyond.
Upcoming activities
Textiles of the Future
Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda
In July 2024, Textile ETP published the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for the "Textiles of the Future" European Partnership. Developed by Textile ETP with input from its members, the SRIA addresses the major challenges of the ongoing green and digital transition in the textile sector. It focuses on upcoming regulatory requirements and global market trends while leveraging key enabling technologies.
Following the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between the European Commission and Textile ETP (expected in early Spring 2025), dedicated calls for proposals will be launched under Cluster 4 of the Horizon Europe programme between 2025 and 2027. These calls will reflect the priorities set out in the SRIA and will be approved by the Partnership Board, consisting of representatives from the European Commission and private stakeholders.
Priority Areas and Strategic Topics
In a collaborative effort involving hundreds of experts from across the European textile ecosystem, the SRIA identifies 3 main priority areas and 13 strategic topics.
Priority area I:
Sustainable Materials & Clean Processes
Priority area II:
Digital Supply Chains & New Business Models
Priority area III:
Advanced Manufacturing & High-performance Textiles
Textiles of the Future European Partnership News
