The Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress will take place from 11-13 September. © Dornbirn-GFC

Sustainability and circular economy, digitalisation, technical textiles, nonwovens and the first Startup Days are the hot topics at the Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress, which will take place from 11-13 September in Austria.

Due to the climate change and the eco-social imbalances on the globe, sustainable resource management has become a key element for our future. So has become fundamental rethinking in many ways. As generator of ideas and networks, the Dornbirn-GFC would like to encourage rethinking and thus, offers its platform of sustainability and circular economy.

The internationally renowned marine research centre Scripps Institution of Oceanography in California has been won over for the congress. The American expert Sarah-Jeanne Royer will present new research results and solutions on microplastics.

The digital footprint and Life Cycle Analysis – criteria that are used in the very performance-driven textiles and nonwovens industry – will be completely re-introduced into the evaluation in the future.

Participants of the Dornbirn-GFC can expect more than 100 expert lectures. © Dornbirn-GFC

Robert Rosellen, Microsoft, brings the technology from the software industry into the game. In addition, top expert Stefan Achleitner, from Palo Alto Networks, California, will provide insights into cyber security.

Startup Days

The first Dornbirn-GFC Startup Days will take place from 11-12 September, in cooperation with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Because of being characterised by a different development dynamic in comparison to established companies, start-ups often have to face failure. In spite of innovative ideas, gap closure between technology and the market are regularly missing. The Startup Days are designed to provide a networking platform for young companies. 

Startups in the areas of smart fibres, smart applications, smart sports tech & outdoor, and smart sustainability & circular economy will be present at the congress.

Top-class plenary lectures

The lecture Man-made Fibres in Europe: new as well as existing challenges in a politically changing environment by  Necat Altin, CEO, CIRFS, will open the first day. Uday Gill, CEO, Indorama Ventures, will explore the challenges of sustainability of synthetic fibres, as well as shed some light on future prospects. Robert van de Kerkhof, CCO, Lenzing, will address this topic from the perspective of the  cellulose fibre industry.

CEO panel

An interesting discussion about circular economy will feature three biggest fibre producers. Uday Gill, Robert van de Kerkhof, Gunjan Sharma, CMO, Reliance, Yogendra Dandapure, from Lululemon, and Mauro Scalia, from Euratex, will provide insights and answers in regard to this future-oriented topic, led by the experienced industry consultant Walter Woitsch, Partner Syngroup.

Digitalisation in Europe

Specialists with expertise and practical experience will explain whether digitalisation can boost innovation in the European economy. High-level representatives of the industry and IT will debate on the current situation.

Specialists with expertise and practical experience will explore various topics. © Dornbirn-GFC

Thomas Riegler, Partner PwC, Stefan Achleitner, Research Palo Alto Networks, Jochen Adler, CTO, Oerlikon, Robert Rosellen, Microsoft, Martin Ohneberg, CEO, Henn, discuss this topic, led by Josef Mantl – communication expert and member of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.

Participants of the Dornbirn-GFC can also expect more than 100 expert lectures on key topics, including fibre innovations, circular economy and sustainability, digitalisation and smart textiles, surface modification and additives, sports and leisure wear, and nonwovens and technical textiles.

www.dornbirn-gfc.com