EDANA, the leading association and voice of the nonwovens and related industries, has confirmed the 15 students or researchers selected for the 2017 EDANA Nonwovens R&D Student Grant.

The grants cover all participation costs for students to attend the Nonwovens Innovation Academy (NIA) to be hosted by the Saxon Textile Research Institute (STFI) in its brand-new Centre of Textile Lightweight Engineering in Chemnitz, Germany, from 25-26 October. 

This Student Grant initiative is a result of the NIA’s main goal: to encourage the development of technical understanding and research and to support innovation and growth in the nonwovens and related industries by bringing together academics, students, scientists, engineers and industry experts.

Awarded grants

The grants were awarded to the following 15 academics studying in the field of nonwovens or related areas:

• Frederik Cloppenburg, Head of Research Group Nonwoven Technology - Institute für Textiltechnik der RWTH Aachen University (Germany)
• Bahattin Düzenli, B.Sc. Candidate - 4th Grade Student - Suleyman Demirel University (Turkey)
• Mohamed Elsharkawy - Research Assistant - National Research Center (Egypt)
• Ali Hassnain Farrukh, M.Sc E-TEAM - Ghent University (Belgium)
• Ben Golland, PhD Student CDT Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine - Institute of Medical & Biological Engineering (IMBE), University of Leeds (United Kingdom)
• Zuhaib Hassan, Phd Student - Istanbul Technical University (Turkey)
• Vijay Kumar, Phd Student - University of Borås (Sweden)
• Yolanda Leask, MA Student, Textile and Surface Design - Weissensee School of Art (Germany)
• Maneesh Kumar Mishra, PhD Researcher - ENSAIT-GEMTEX (France)
• Christian Möbitz, Researcher - Institute für Textiltechnik der RWTH Aachen University (Germany)
• Kameswara Rao, PhD Student - Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (India)
• Jessica Rickman, PhD Researcher - Clothworkers Centre for Textile Materials Innovation for Healthcare - University of Leeds (United Kingdom)
• Sumit Sharma, PhD Student - Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (India)
• Muhammad Umar, PhD Researcher - The University of Manchester (United Kingdom)
• Pranil Vora, Textile Technology Student - D.K.T.E Textile & Engineering Institute (India)

Science and technologies

The students will have the opportunity to showcase their projects through posters during the NIA event. An independent panel of experts will cast their votes and nominate the laureates who present the best three posters. These laureates will be invited to the International Nonwovens Symposium in Rome in May 2018 to present their work in front of over 250 attendees.

“The NIA promotes fundamental understanding and knowledge of the science and technologies contributing to the advancement of nonwoven fabrics, products and processes, and provides a unique opportunity for both relaxed networking and structured meetings between researchers, students specialising in nonwovens or related fields, and potential employers,” said Pierre Wiertz, General Manager of EDANA.

Since 2006, and the kick-off edition in Roubaix, France, the Nonwovens Academy has brought together around 650 delegates from a large number of academic, research and testing institutes from four continents as well as industrial companies. The conference has rotated so far between French, German, Swedish and UK centres who had the opportunity of hosting the conference.

www.edana.org