ZeroF develops safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) coating alternatives to replace PFAS compounds in food packaging and upholstery textiles value chains. The developed coatings will have limited water absorption, high oil/grease resistance for packaging and high water and oil repellency for textiles. We propose the development of coatings from reasonably-priced precursors with estimated costs of ca. 0.2-0.4 €/m2 in the final product, which meets the remains under the targeted 20% increase compared to current alternatives. To reach the environmental impact target of >25% improvement, we use renewable feedstock, non-toxic compounds and improve higher process efficiencies. PFASes are replaced by two chemistries, cellulose fatty acid esters for packaging and silane-based organic-inorganic hybrids for textiles. The project includes three work streams: food packaging, upholstery textiles and SSbD analysis. Both food packaging and textile workflows follow a similar path (chemical development, formulation, coating, and validation). The SSbD analysis actively analyses the data regarding environmental impacts (Life Cycle Assessment, Life Cycle Cost, and Environmental Footprint) and toxicology (e.g., hazard and law, Green Toxicology principles). Computational methods are employed to model the toxicology and performance of developed chemistries in-silico, to reduce in-vitro testing and to generate tools for certification and standardization process. Certification and regulatory roadmap are developed to identify future regulatory needs and knowledge gaps. SSbD models are developed within the EC-suggested framework to be easily adapted to other sectors beyond the project scope. A mix of research and industrial partners able to cover both packaging and textile coating value chains including end-users comprises the consortium.

Textiles and clothing, one of the most important sectors of activity in Europe with more than 3 million persons employed, has been severely affected by crisis and restructuring processes.The textile industry is traditional for Europe, with a centuries-old history, offering high quality and innovative products. It is the leading sector in the EU. According to EURATEX Annual report 2018, the EU-28 is the world's largest market for textile and clothing products with household consumption of € 520 billion, it turnover is 178 billion; in the TCI are employed 1.7 million workers; the industry exports to outside EU amount to almost € 50 billion; the EU TCI counts 171,000 companies, 99% of which are small and medium-sized niche players focusing on quality, innovation, creativity and outstanding customer service. The development of the necessary competences and skills for existing workforce and attracting qualified young experts of the next generation has become a priority for companies. The textile industry is in a pressing need of human resources because a great part (about 40%) is expected to retire in the next few years, and it is not attractive to young people.As the results of TECLO project (www.teclo.eu) highlight, European companies (especially SMEs) need more skilled employees especially with regard to competences related to innovation, management, and internationalisation. As, the Skills4Smart TCLF Industries 2030 (http://www.s4tclfblueprint.eu) key research findings further demonstrate, these competences are not adequately addressed by traditional VET courses so, in order to enable a new generation of Textile and Clothing professionals to adequate face the challenges of this sector, new training tools and more effective training approaches are needed.FACTIVE project aims to make a further step on the path set by TECLO project, reusing and further implementing its good results, while also complement the ongoing work implemented in the framework of the Skills4Smart TCLF Industries 2030 project. The main objectives of FACTIVE project are, indeed:to enhance the quality and relevance of the learning offer in Textile and Clothing VET training by developing of an innovative learning approach based on flipped classrooms methodology and scenario-based learning approach;to improve the level and the assessment of learners’ competences, including entrepreneurship, non-technological innovation and internationalisation;to promote take-up of innovative practices, by using open and flexible learning tools.Starting from good practices already in use in Europe and a thorough analysis of companies needs concerning non technological innovation and internationalization skills, the partnership will integrate the TECLO Massive Open Online Course with new contents and will develop a Flipped Classroom Methodology to be used by VET trainers in the Textile and Clothing Sector.The main activities foreseen by the project are:- Development of a new flexible, integrated, innovative learning approach for the T&C VET Trainers, based on the flipped classroom methodology, in order to overcome the limits of traditional, too theoretical, VET training approaches;- Integration of the TECLO MOOC with new contents, based on real work situations defined with the collaboration of T&C European companies;- Validation of the FACTIVE approach by project partners; - Piloting of the FACTIVE approach by relevant stakeholders;- Animation of a Community of practice for VET trainers and providers;- Development of a Handbook for VET teacher and trainers containing guidelines about how to use the Training Toolkit and how to evaluate learning outcomes.

Advanced textile materials are a thriving sub-sector in the textile and clothing ecosystem based on high added value and differentiation as unique selling proposition. Innovation in this field is key in the resilience building of the EU textile sector and its competitiveness, particularly in VUCA environments such as COVID-19 pandemic.Two major trends to increase the innovation ecosystem in the advanced textile sector are the update of digitalization and green innovations to address climate change and improve the sustainability of the sector. However, there is a lack of knowledge by textile SMEs in digital tools beyond traditional CRM and ERP. In addition, while sustainability is raising in the textile sector, many companies are still far from exploiting tools and principles such as eco-design.Therefore, a holistic approach fostering the digital and green transition is needed to boost innovation in the sector through knowledge transfer and co-creation between academia and the industrial sector. Clusters will bring together the triple helix of innovation along with industry.The ADDTEX project main objective is to facilitate the flow and co-creation of knowledge between higher education (HEI) and vocational education and training (VET), research, public sector and business sector within the advanced textile materials sector to foster new, innovative and multidisciplinary approaches to teaching and learning. In parallel, the project aims to stimulate a sense of initiative and entrepreneurial attitudes, mindsets and skills in learners, educational staff and other workers, in line with the Green Deal and Entrepreneurship Competence Framework. ADDTEX will also improve the quality and relevance of skills developed and certified through education and training systems. The project will also reinforce the clusters in each region, supporting education and training of advanced textile materials companies through linkages with HEIs and VETs.

The textiles and clothing manufacturing sector, one of the largest and most important in Europe, now more than ever, needs workforce qualified to manage research and innovation actions; one that should have the right mix of skills, both professional and transversal, in order to demonstrate their competence for applied research, development and technological transfer. In this context, the TEXSTRA project developed the tools necessary for skills enhancement, targeted to higher education, in relation to research and innovation, in order to obtain its objectives: to strengthen the knowledge triangle, i.e. the cooperation and networking between HEI’s, research organizations and companies in order to reinforce the textile research position in the European context as a potential development key; to promote research & innovation based actions, testing and development of new e-learning tools for students, trainers and professionals; to promote the application of good practices for the enhancement of innovative skills; and to provide knowledge, skills and competences by using virtual tools.The TEXSTRA partnership comprised 10 institutions from 8 European countries (Romania, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Italy) presenting a balanced geographic coverage. There is a mixture of institutions with different profiles, capacities and complementary competences that are appropriate for the development of the work programme (higher education institutions, private and public research and training centres, SME’s companies, non-profit institutions, and business associations). A set of implementation activities led to the achievement of the project objectives supported by preparation, management, quality and dissemination activities that ensured the propagation of its results even after the project has ended. All of the project results are the outcomes of four (4) Intellectual Outputs (O2, O3, O5, and O6). The activities included a) the development of a training programme and e-learning material for transferring research and innovation to textile and clothing students and companies in the form of the TEXSTRA e-book, b) the development of an online platform for transferring research and innovation through project based training , c) the development of a Book of lectures “Innovative and Creative thinking in the Textile & Clothing manufacturing sector”, that served as the training material related to Innovative and Creative thinking in the Textile & Clothing sector for the intensive summer course C1 organized in Portugal by UMINHO, and d) the development of a “Project handbook of good practices & open challenges: training tools and methodologies to foster creativity and innovation within the textile and clothing manufacturing sector”, containing all relevant information related to the project and its achievements as well as open challenges to be tackled. A Project Ambassadors Group has been created based on partners from TEXSTRA consortium in order to disseminate the handbook of good practices through a LinkedIn group, among others. In addition, two support actions have been implemented 1) the Need Analysis report , based on desk and field research, depicting the state of the art for the skills and training in the textile and clothing manufacturing industry related to research and innovation, has been created based on questionnaires surveys, 2) the Virtual Internship, a form of internship was started online on the project e-Learning platform, in the form of tutorship of teams of students by companies on specific projects/challenges. In Virtual Internship platform are already enrolled a number of students and companies.The intensive study programme (C1) organized in Portugal by partner UMINHO have been attended by selected students of the universities involved in the project; it has involved training sessions, combining e-learning sessions and physical presence, mixing different learning tools and methodologies, such as flipped classrooms, company visits and testimonials.With the realization of TEXSTRA, members of the target groups, students of HEI’s, trainees of textile and clothing manufacturing enterprises, managers and potential ones of Textile/Clothing SME’s, as well as other stakeholders in the field, have benefited from the project results during the lifetime of the project, either by their participation in multiplier events and workshops or by subscribing to the Virtual Internship platform, by using the TEXSTRA E-book, by participating in the multiplier events (E2-E7), in the intensive study programme for HEI learners (C1) and by getting informed by the newsletters. After the project conclusion, the platform will remain operational and it will host the final version of all project outputs which can by freely downloaded by external stakeholders; moreover it will be available for further development and testing by the partners.

This Knowledge Alliance aims at modernising EU’s higher education systems in the field of textiles and clothing (T&C) through a better anticipation of skill needs, based on development of sustainable partnerships between education and employment. This Alliance will result in a facilitated sector adaptation during crisis processes through a better anticipation and positive management of change, via the training of a new generation of strategic managers able to foster stronger synergies between innovation, skills and jobs.Starting from companies’ needs, a pan-european MOOC (Massive Online Learning Course) will be developed in 8 different EU languages, educating the future T&C Managers for export, marketing, innovation, sustainability and entrepreneurship oriented companies (TECLOM).ACTIVITIES- Development of sectoral methods for anticipation of skills needs - Implementation of specific initiatives that stimulate employers to co-invest in the activities of HEIs, research and business centres to address new skills requirements - Development of a new flexible, innovative learning approach and delivery method for the T&C HEI sector, taking into account barriers existing among SMEs and based on experiential learning / real-life situations- Set up of the EU curricula of the new professional figure of the TECLOM, endowed with more advanced social, entrepreneurial and management skills- Development of flexible devices for validation and recognition of entrepreneurship skills, using ECVET principles - Providing the sector with a MOOC for the new TECLOM – a freely accessible and openly licensed online course aimed at unlimited participation and open access via the web – with a strong use of simulation and real-life situations - Pilot the MOOC on over 200 among T&C university students and managers (8 Learning Labs)- Set up of a European Development Network for TECLOM pooling the assets of universities, research centres, SMEs and large companies together.