Over 100 pioneers gather for innovation incubator. © EDANA

The Nonwovens Innovation Academy 2019 (NIA), held in Denkendorf from 16-17 October, demonstrated once again that the nonwovens and related industries harbours a talented and thriving research community.

Over 100 R&D and innovation managers, product developers, researchers and students from Europe to the Middle East, India and North America gathered for an intense conference programme and networking.

Seeking inspiration and sharing knowledge to create new solutions and improve current applications were the main drivers for participants, according to the event organisers. The conference programme covered the industry’s topical issues under the following themes: nonwovens technologies, materials and recycling, spinning technologies, medical developments and innovative applications.

Eighteen researchers and students presented academic posters in the networking area to the delegates and a jury of experts. Two research projects won the contest and will receive a grant to visit the INDEX20, the leading nonwovens exhibition taking place from 31 March to 3 April 2020 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The winners of the poster contest are:

• Michael Philipps, University of Leeds, with his research on Nonwoven-Reinforced Elastomers for Repair and Regeneration of Soft Tissue
• Siddharth Shukla, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, with his research on Micro-Structural Analysis of Absorptive Glass Mat (AGM) Nonwoven Separators Via X-Ray Computed Tomography Analysis

The Innovation Roundtables, a new feature of the NIA, were enthusiastically received by all participants. They allowed small groups of attendees to discuss a broad range of product innovation challenges with innovation experts.

“To sum it up, a perfectly organized event – a highly informative program and an excellent networking opportunity,” said Anja Waldeck, Speciality Papers Europe, SWM.

“A very interesting conference covering both fundamental research and the applicability in several applications with a strong focus on sustainability. Also very interesting for building networks between the industry and different academic parties,” commented Davy Goossens, Market and Product Development Manager, Beaulieu Fibres International.

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