Technical Textiles
Textiles are everywhere in modern society. Technical Textiles are defined as materials and products manufactured primarily for their technical and performance properties rather than their aesthetic or decorative characteristics.

Technical textiles are the basis of many applications across a very broad range of industry sectors, including:
- Technical protective textiles to improve worker safety in the workplace.
- Agrotextiles used in agriculture include all activities concerned with the growing and harvesting of crops and animals
- Textiles used in construction for decoration and structural applications
- Technical textiles for clothing applications
- Geotextiles defined as all woven, nonwoven and knitted textile materials used mainly by the civil engineering industry
- Home textiles used in a domestic environment include interior decorations and furniture, carpeting, protection against the sun, cushion materials, fireproofing, floor and wall coverings, and textile reinforced structures/fittings.
- Industrial textiles are used for chemical and electrical applications and textiles related to mechanical engineering.
- Medical textiles include all the medical fabrics that are used in health and hygiene applications in both consumer and medical markets.
- Textiles for transport These textiles are used in the construction of automobiles, railways, ships, aircraft and spacecraft.
- Eco textiles in environmental protection applications
- Sports textiles, are used mainly for making sports wear including sports shoes and other sports accessories.
With technical textiles it will be possible offer innovative solutions for global problems, such as pollution, health issues, transports, protection, communication, and so on.
Current Technical Textiles funding opportunities
UK-South Korea Collaborative R&D
Opens: 14/02/2022 Closes: 06/07/2022
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £2 million for this competition, with a maximum grant of £350k/project. This funding is for the purpose of developing innovative proposals with South Korea.
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Identifying Solutions to Crop Damage Caused by Birds
Opens: 27/05/2022 Closes: 08/07/2022
This Innovation Exchange challenge, delivered by Innovate UK KTN through the Global Alliance Africa project, is supporting a large Agri-based Manufacturing Company with operations across Africa, which is looking for innovative solutions to prevent crop damage caused by migrating birds.
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Transforming local bio-based waste streams into circular textile and building materials
How can we transform local waste bioresources into textile and building materials? Join the latest Bioeconomy Cluster Builder webinar to hear from the creative and scientific communities as they consider design and manufacturing opportunities in this rapidly evolving area.
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