Bridging market needs and innovative applications is the focus of the inaugural Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics (RISE) Conference, which will take place September 20-23 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Organized by INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, RISE will provide information and stimulation for innovation in all aspects of the development, production, marketing and sales of disposable and durable nonwovens and engineered fabrics to help companies compete in the ever-changing 21st century marketplace.

Among the world-class speakers at RISE are:

Chuck Pelly, the legendary designer of BMW’s X5 and 3-Series, who will speak on the decision-making process all auto designers use and incorporating nonwoven fabrics into the decision-making tree.

John Wilbanks, of Creative Commons-GreenXchange, who will speak on harnessing the power of collaboration through Nike’s digital platform for sharing sustainability innovations on a global scale.

Karl-Michael Schumann, former Senior Executive with Procter & Gamble and now an independent Innovation Advisor and Coach. His presentation will explain on how buy-in from both management and R&D teams is key for a successful corporate innovation program.

One of the highlights of RISE will be a special workshop on “Leveraging Innovation to Drive Profitable Growth.” The agenda includes discussions on Innovation and Inventions, descriptions of 10 types of innovation and examining the characteristics of innovation leaders. Another highlight of the workshop will be sessions on “Suggestions for an Innovation Engine” and “Innovation Exercise.”

The target audience for the premier event ranges from product managers and technical sales and marketing executives to product engineers, purchasing managers and research engineers at both consumer and industrial products companies.

“An important focus of RISE will be the use of nonwovens and engineered fabrics in emerging markets, specifically in green energy and sustainability,” says INDA President Rory Holmes. “In addition, RISE will focus on markets as diverse as hygiene and automotives, as challenging as construction and as innovative as consumer products.”

As with all INDA events, networking among suppliers and customers will also be a key component of RISE, Holmes adds. “RISE will facilitate the sharing of ideas and strategies that will drive our industry as a whole into the future,” Holmes adds. “It is about the business moving forward together for the benefit of all individuals and companies.”

Registration for the full RISE Conference and Workshop for INDA members is $1,000 before August 15 ($1,200 after August 15.) For non-members, registration is $1,400 before August 15 ($1,680 after August 15). Separate registration packages are also available for the Workshop only and for the Conference only.

For more information on the Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics (RISE) Conference: www.inda.org