Industry leaders underline innovation amid global uncertainty.
Innovation is emerging as the textile industry’s strongest response to economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and cautious investment sentiment. This message took centre stage at the press conference of Techtextil and Texprocess, the world’s leading international trade fairs for technical textiles and textile processing, where industry leaders discussed how innovation is accelerating sector-wide transformation.
A panel discussion highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence, digitalisation, sustainable materials and new production models in reshaping textile value chains. These advances are being brought into focus through the Techtextil and Texprocess Innovation Awards, which recognise solutions that translate research into industrial and commercial applications.
“Especially in times of restrained investment, it becomes clear just how crucial innovative strength is,” said Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies, Messe Frankfurt. “Techtextil and Texprocess are the places where ideas are not only presented but further developed into market-ready solutions. The Techtextil and Texprocess Innovation Awards make this innovative strength tangible – giving new technologies visibility, credibility and often the decisive impetus needed to turn research into concrete industrial applications and partnerships.”
Addressing global competitiveness, Elgar Straub, Managing Director, VDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies, noted that innovation today is both an efficiency lever and a growth driver. “Digitalisation, automation and AI enable companies to conserve resources, produce flexibly and reposition themselves more effectively and competitively,” he said.
From an industry perspective, Walter Wählt, Chairman, Texprocess Innovation Award and Senior Director Advanced Creation, adidas, highlighted how 3D design, virtual prototyping and AI are reducing development cycles and material consumption, while stressing that human creativity and judgment remain irreplaceable.
Sustainability and advanced materials were also central to the discussion. António Braz Costa, Chairman, Techtextil Innovation Award and General Manager, CITEVE, emphasised that research-driven innovation is essential to make high-performance sustainable solutions economically viable and scalable.
Techtextil and Texprocess will be held from April 21 to 24, 2026, with the Innovation Award winners to be announced starting April 14, 2026.