Greiz / Zeulenroda, March 12, 2026 – How can textiles help make people’s lives healthier and safer—or even save lives in an emergency? This question is being addressed by numerous companies and research institutes developing so-called smart textiles: textiles with integrated electronic functions used in fields such as medical technology, occupational safety, and by authorities and organizations with security responsibilities (BOS).
More business-oriented and increasingly international – strong satisfaction among participants
This year’s SMART TEXTILES User Forum focused on the topics of medicine and safety. The program featured ten expert presentations, a company tour at Bauerfeind AG, and an accompanying exhibition. Around 90 participants took the opportunity to learn about the latest developments and emerging applications in smart textiles while engaging in lively discussions and networking.
“We received extremely positive feedback from all sides—from speakers and moderators to, of course, the participants,” says Dr. Fabian Schreiber, Managing Director of TITV Greiz. “The thematic focus on medicine and safety, together with a stronger emphasis on user and industry perspectives, further sharpened the profile of our event series. As a research institute closely connected to industry, this practical relevance is particularly important to us.”
| Video: Impressions from the SMART TEXTILES user forum |
The importance of this business-oriented perspective was also reflected in the participants’ feedback. Forty-one of the approximately 90 attendees took part in a survey: 88 percent considered moderation by representatives from industry to be rather or very important. Overall satisfaction with the event was equally high, with participants awarding the forum an average grade of 1.4 in the German grading system.
TITV Greiz also expanded the forum’s international reach. For the first time, presentations from Slovenia and the Netherlands contributed to a more international program. The bilingual format—with both German and English presentations—was well received by the audience. According to the survey results, 71 percent of participants rated the inclusion of speakers from non-German-speaking countries as rather or very important.
Presentations in four thematic blocks: medical technology, resilience, occupational safety, and start-ups
The first thematic block, dedicated to medical technology, was moderated by Dr. Merle Fuchs from medways e. V. Margret Hünerbein from the Dutch company Bilihome presented an innovative romper suit designed for the treatment of neonatal jaundice. The solution aims to make conventional hospital phototherapy more comfortable, family-friendly, and suitable for everyday use without compromising medical effectiveness. Tobias Berchtold from Vprotect in Austria introduced a sensor for the early detection of atrial fibrillation, which can help prevent serious cardiovascular conditions such as strokes. Arthur Reschke from Art Glove presented a specially developed glove for the treatment of chronic rheumatic diseases. The current prototype includes massage and vibration functions and has already demonstrated significant pain reduction in initial user studies.
The resilience session was moderated by Prof. Dr. Thomas Gries from the Institute of Textile Technology at RWTH Aachen University. Alexandra Kunzet and Jana Oldenburg presented a textile-based blood sensor capable of reliably distinguishing between different bodily fluids and detecting blood loss. The system uses sensor elements integrated directly into textiles and was specifically developed for safety-critical and extreme medical scenarios. Bine Oder from the FireCat Group in Slovenia then presented an AI-supported sensor system designed for emergency services. The system enables real-time monitoring of vital parameters, movement, and location, allowing response teams to identify risks early and react more effectively in critical situations.
In the occupational safety session, moderated by Dr. Michael Schadhauser from UVEX ARBEITSSCHUTZ GMBH, two additional innovations were presented. Lisa Hermann and Nelson Martins from the Application Development Group at YKK Europe Limited showcased zippers, press studs, and rivets with integrated electronic functions. These components can serve as switches and can be seamlessly integrated into textile systems.
Following this, Lutz Doms from Askion GmbH and Dr. Andreas Neudeck introduced a heated glove designed for use in cryogenic environments.
The final session focused on start-ups and emerging product ideas and was moderated by Verena Dittrich from Redwave Medical. Dr. Thomas Mäder from the start-up Deep Breath presented an intelligent sensor belt for breathing training that provides real-time feedback via a mobile app. Founder Diana Dill introduced her development of an adaptive lighting and orientation system designed to help prevent delirium in intensive care units.
The session concluded with Arved Masch from MinkTec GmbH presenting “rectify,” a posture-correction shirt designed to help prevent back pain.
About the SMART TEXTILES User Forum
The SMART TEXTILES User Forum brings together stakeholders from industry, research, and development to discuss current trends, technologies, and applications in the field of smart textiles. The forum serves as a platform for exchange, knowledge transfer, and collaboration.
In addition to specialist presentations, the organizers—TITV Greiz, Forschungskuratorium Textil, and the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF)—offer participants opportunities for discussion, live demonstrations, and networking.
