Completed the workshop: The role of innovation, with emphasis on the sectors of textile / apparel and information technologies

The organizers of this workshop were Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb and the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, and workshop was held in the Council of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce. During the three-day workshop participants met with the theme: Innovation and application of innovation in the field of textiles and clothing and application of innovation in the textile ICT sector.

The workshop was opened with introductory words, Ms. Vesna Torbarina from CCC and Professor Sandra Bischof Vukušić, and emphasized that despite the negative trends associated with the textile industry in Croatia, textiles in Europe is still of great importance and potential of the continuous development of innovations.

In addition to representatives of Croatian state institutions and economists at a workshop participated by representatives of renowned European institutes and textile companies as a lecturer (Leitat-Spain, STFI-Germany-Poland INFMP, GZE-Italy).

The second day workshop was conducted in sessions on specific innovations in the field of textiles and clothing, and the example of Croatian textile association in textile clusters. Certainly the most interesting was a lecture by Mrs. Elena Turco from the Italian company GZE, which has presented an innovative design using ICT integration elektroluminiscencije in protective clothing and equipment. The workshop was presented and a successful FP6 project of the Spanish textile institute Leitat. Final lecture was delivered by Mr. Davor Aničić of”Innovation”Ruder attracted great interest because they represented the present possibilities of cooperation with the most significant Croatian scientific research institutions Ruder Boskovic.

At this workshop, Croatian lecturers demonstrated its great potential for scientific research, as well as opportunities to provide scientific research institutions and small and medium-sized enterprises in their efforts to be equally involved in European research area. Speakers from the European Union through the presentation, and particularly its active involvement in the discussion held after the lectures, provide concrete examples of good practice, where the innovation has led to a new product, process or service and thereby ensure its competitiveness in the market.