UPWEARS Hosts Workshop #2 at CITEVE on Bio-Inspired Textiles

The European research project UPWEARS held its second technical workshop on 27 January 2026 in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. The event was hosted by CITEVE – Technological Centre for the Textile and Clothing Industries of Portugal and brought together project partners to examine developments in bio-inspired design, circular processes, and digital tools for textile manufacturing.

The workshop focused on the practical application of bio-inspired design concepts, circular production processes, and digital technologies in textile manufacturing. The event marked the second technical workshop of the project and aimed to transition discussions from conceptual research toward demonstrations in industrial and laboratory environments.

Experts from CITEVE presented information on how advanced technologies can contribute to circular and resource-efficient textile systems. In addition to presentations, participants attended live demonstrations in CITEVE’s laboratories and pilot facilities. Demonstration areas included additive manufacturing, mechanical recycling and spinning, chemical recycling, dyeing and finishing processes, nonwoven, woven and knitted structures, composite materials, and cutting and sewing technologies.

The programme also included thematic sessions addressing bio-inspired design and additive manufacturing, recycling and sustainability strategies, and digital tools used in textile manufacturing. A guided laboratory visit formed part of the workshop activities, providing participants with an overview of research infrastructures used to test and scale sustainable textile solutions.

The UPWEARS project focuses on developing a value chain based on the use of flax, hemp, cork, and by-products from the paper industry. The project integrates green chemistry processes, biomimetic design approaches, functionalised fibres and yarns, embedded sensing technologies, artificial-intelligence-driven optimisation, and circular design strategies aimed at improving recyclability.

According to the project documentation, Workshop #2 demonstrated how these approaches are being applied to practical textile solutions by connecting research activity with manufacturing environments. Hosting the workshop within CITEVE’s technological facilities allowed participants to examine how materials innovation, processing technologies, and sustainability objectives can be addressed within industrial settings.

The UPWEARS project also includes the development of a demonstrator product: a bio-inspired cross-country biking suit designed to incorporate high-performance and sustainable materials.

The project runs for 48 months from September 2024 to August 2028 with a total budget of €7.8 million and a Horizon Europe contribution of €7 million. It is coordinated by INRAE in France and involves 14 partners from seven countries. Partner organisations include University of Cambridge, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, CITEVE – Technological Centre for the Textile and Clothing Industries of Portugal, Bioeconomy Science Institute, KU Leuven, Université Bretagne Sud, Université Marie et Louis Pasteur, Synchrotron SOLEIL, Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale, Texteis Penedo, PAFIL, and Bioeconomy For Change.

The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme under grant agreement No. 101130741.