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TAGS - Project Overview 

Barbora Široká, Thomas Bechtold, and Ján Široký 

The Seventh Framework Programme for Research and 

Technological Development 

“Textiles for Ageing Society” 

Grant Agreement Number 290494 

FP7 – NMP – 2011 – CSA - 5 

TAGS - Project Overview VOETC Vorarlberg, 14 th of March 2012, Dornbirn

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The Seventh Framework Programme for Research 

and Technological Development: 

o the EU's main instrument funding research in 

Europe 

o runs from 2007 to 2013 (then after integrated 

into the Horizon 2020 programmes) with budget 

of € 50.5 billion, excluding Euratom 

o it designed to respond to Europe’s employment 

needs and competitiveness 

o supports research in selected priority areas - to 

make, or keep, the EU as a world leader in those 

sectors 

Source: Understanding the FP7 - FP7 - Tomorrow's answers start today 

http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/index_en.cfm?pg=understanding 


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TAGS CALL 

Topic called: NMP.2011.2.3-3 – Networking of materials laboratories and innovation 

actors in various industrial sectors for product or process innovation – 

coordination and support actions 

Technical 

Content/Scope: 

• New alliances are needed to mobilise and bring together all the 

right actors and to broker collaboration between material 

research and industrial entrepreneurs. 

• To stimulate the creation of a dynamic system that exploits the 

untapped potential of new ideas/materials to create new 

businesses (with novel or boosted alliances between material 

researchers and “creative industries“) 

• Bring together researchers with the other actors in the determination 

of the added value, aiming at constituting teams of innovators, 

able to close the loop from the laboratories to a product, or a novel 

industrial process. 

• Actors competent in other aspects that can play a critical role in 

boosting competitiveness and accelerate success (metrology, 

standardization, socio-economic, health or environmental impact, 

regulation) 

„FP7 NMP Work Programme 2011, Cooperation, Theme 4 - Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and New Production Technologies – NMP” 


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AGEING SOCIETY – DRIVING FORCE 

Source: Eurostat (data from October 2011) http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Population_structure_and_ageing# 

� Almost 14% of the EU population is over the age of 65 and this figure is expected to double by 

2050. By then we will have 80 million older Europeans. 

� Over the last century average life expectancy in Europe has increased for males from 45.7 to 75.0 

years, and for females from 49.6 to 79.9 years, birth rate has reduced. 

� For the EU-25, 22% of the population will be aged over 65 by 2025, rising to almost 30% by 

2050. In absolute terms, this represents an increase of 60 million people between 2004 and 2050, to 

a total of 134.5 million. 

� Furthermore, the proportion of very old people (aged 80 and above) in the EU-25 will grow even 

more rapidly, from 4% in 2004 to reach 6% by 2025 and 10% by 2050. 

Source: i2010: Independent Living for the Ageing Society (2007) http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/policy_link/brochures/documents/independent_living.pdf 


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PROJECTED OLD-AGE DEPENDENCY RATIO 

Eurostat's old-age dependency ratio measures and predicts "the projected number of 

persons aged 65 and over expressed as a percentage of the projected number of persons 

aged between 15 and 64." The bigger the number, the older the population. 

For example, the ratio for the EU-27 was 25.9 % in 2010 which means there were 

around four persons of working age for every person aged 65 or over. 

Source: Eurostat (data from 20.12.2011) http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/refreshTableAction.do?tab=table&plugin=1&pcode=tsdde511&language=en 


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CONTENT OF TAGS 

Improving quality of elderly life 

High quality of life - key to well being 

� living longer independently 

� being able to continue in high-quality 

employment and contribute productively to 

the economy – (active ageing in work) 

� active participation in society, through 

social contacts and activities, daily economic 

activities such as shopping, and democratic 

decision-making. 

Towards integrated social and health care 

Tableware designed for people who suffer from dementia 

http://www.wallpaper.com/directory/graduate/2011/grads#55130 

� Independent living is about both social and health care. 

Many older people experience some form of physical or cognitive impairment, or suffer 

from a chronic condition. 

� Thus, besides social care there is a clear need for long-term healthcare too. 

� The challenge is to find the right mix of health, social and informal care to match the 

individual’s needs: this requires ‘joined-up’ thinking by researchers, policy-makers and 

care agencies on the ground. 


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TAGS CONSORTIUM 

Acronym Participant legal name Country 

Organis. 

type 

1-UIBK University of Innsbruck AUT University 

2-TITK 

3-NIRI 

Thuringian Institute of Textiles and 

Plastics Research 

Nonwovens Innovation and 

Research Institute, Ltd 

GER 

Research 

organization 

GBR SME 

4-WarmX WarmX GER SME 

5-TEXVER 

Textilverein – Registered 

association of textile SMEs 

TAGS - Project Overview VOETC Vorarlberg, 14 th of March 2012, Dornbirn 

AUT 

Non-profit 

Organiz. 

6-FLORIDA Tessitura Florida S.R.L. ITA SME 

7-CONN 

8-KHBG 

9-ANS 

Connexia – Gesellschaft für 

Gesundheit und Pflege gem. GmbH 

Vorarlberger Krankenhaus- 

Betriebsgesellschaft m.b.H 

Anziani E Non Solo società 

cooperativa 

10-DCS Democenter-Sipe ITA 

AUT End-User 

AUT End-User 

ITA End-User 

Inn./Tech.Tr 

ansfer Org. 

European 

Ageing 

Society 

Technology 

development 

P3 

Care-givers 

P7, P8, P9 

Industry 

P4, P5, P6

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TAGS CONSORTIUM 

Areas of Expertise 

UIBK - Textile and fibre research, cellulose fibre research; processing of cellulosic textiles; alkali 

treatments; waste-water treatment; heat, moisture and water transport; electrochemistry 

TITK - Transformation and shaping of natural polymers; chemical recovery of polymer wastes; chemical 

processing of materials; development of new conversion technologies; materials characterization 

NIRI - Design, engineering and manufacturing of nonwovens and textiles; development of new products 

for the hygiene, medical and healthcare, filtration, automotive, construction and clothing sectors 

WarmX - Development and manufacturing of knitted smart textiles 

TEXVER - Technology and processing of textiles, commercial exploitation and spin-off activities, company 

funding, research policy and strategy, consumer safety, chemicals regulations, product assessment 

FLORIDA - Development and manufacturing of biological and hypoallergenic textiles, fabric quality 

control, sample technical consulting, product weaving 

CONN - Quality assurance, innovation and development of new concepts in care, educational aspects of 

care, formulation of recommendations 

KHBG - Medical aspects of care, rehabilitation and recovery, education of staff for hospital and home care 

ANS - Social and health services for elderly people; social research, social policies and testing of 

innovative practices aimed to improve the life quality of elderly people and their care-givers 

DCS - Industrial automation and advanced technologies providing innovative services and support design 

and manufacturing processes 


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TEXTILVEREIN 

Brief introduction 

� Non-profit organisation – formed of more than 75 textile companies 

(4600 employees, total turnover of €650 Million) – Vorarlberg 

� Companies (spinning, weaving, knitting, textile dyeing and finishing or 

garment production): 

• Manufacturing 

• Processing 

� located within the chamber of commerce of Vorarlberg 

� the arm of the “Fachgruppe Textilindustrie” (participate in project activities) 

� Source of intensive exchange of knowledge and information 


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TAGS 

In details 

● Project Start - End: 1.1.2012 – 31.12.2015 (4 years) 

● Budget: €1.12 Million (Funded by EC to 100%) 

● Scientific partners 

• Will share knowledge from their areas of expertise 

(e.g. textile chemical analysis, processing, physical testing, structure-property 

relationships of materials, waste-water treatment strategies, chemical recovery of 

polymer wastes, heat – moisture/water transport, research/development of nonwoven 

products, etc.) 

• Will contribute with their ready access to literature 

● Manufacturers 

• Will share knowledge and expertise on processing of textile products 

• Will provide information on limitations related to the process/technology, 

environmental, legal and price regulations 

● Care-givers / End users 

• Will share information on requirements for textiles and clothing for the elderly 

● Technology transfer organization 

• Will identify elements along the innovation chain, provide contact with policy making 

institutions 


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AIMS OF TAGS 

Bring together 

● Elderly 

● Social and medical care institution 

● Research institutions 

● Technology transfer institutions, and 

● Manufacturers 

To identify: 

● Specific requirements of elderly and care institutions 

● Latest developments in materials science and technology, and 

● Strategies to incorporate developments in the manufacturing chain 

Improve or innovate products and/or processes to meet the specific 

clothing and textile needs of EU elderly population 


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TAGS OBJECTIVES 

� To identify new materials, production techniques, and technologies 

based on demands and requirements formulated by end-users and industry 

that can improve the performance of healthcare textile products for the 

elderly. 

� To assess the scope, boundary conditions for innovation and identify 

barriers preventing progress. 

� To set up systems for active discussion and dissemination of 

information between partners, provide public with access to general 

information. 

� To generate new joint and collaborative concepts, joint research 

activities. 

� Identify standards, specifications for products and formulate 

recommendations for policy makers. 


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TARGETED GROUPS/EXPECTED IMPACT 

Targeted groups: 

Policy makers; Manufacturing concerns; Institutions involved in the care of elderly, 

handicapped and infirmed; Public; Research institutions 

Expected Impact: 

� Initiation of research and innovation activities to develop new materials 

and products in the context of ageing people 

� Improvement of the quality of inhabitants lives and also improvement of 

work quality of people involved in care-giving 

� Foster the ability of European enterprises to compete in the global marketplace. 

� Increase of competence in given field 

� Support establishment of new contacts and co-operations 

� Establishment of new co-operations and strengthening of existing 

innovation networks 


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MAIN FIELDS OF INTEREST 

Bedding 

textiles 

Clothing 

Textile 

products for 

hygiene and 

personal 

care 


Therapeutic 

and 

recreational 

/leisure 

textiles 

Researchers Contributions: 

The state of the art of materials, procedures, processes, techniques commonly used; 

possibilities of materials modifications 

Manufacturers Contributions: 

Info on aspects of productions e.g. chemical consumptions, effluents, sustainability, LCA 

End-Users Contributions: 

Survey results on the product requirements, their use, and care of products, garment design, 

non-technological barriers. The needs of elderly.

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BEDDING TEXTILES 

Properties 

• Moisture management (sorption-desorption considered) 

• Air-conditioning effect, ventilative 

• Wash durable 

• Repels body fluids & moisture 

• Cooling effect/thermoregulation (sheets) – moisture 

wicking 

• Anti-microbial 

• Dust mite protection 

Products 

• Bed and Mattress Pads (Incontinence Management) 

• Bed sheets and blankets 

• 3D spacers (variable mesh) 

• Smart embroidery textiles 


Isotherm curves = molecularly sorbed water 

+ 

-

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CLOTHING 

Properties 

• Moisture and heat transport 

• Breathable 

• Membrane-like fibre (hydrophobic/hydrophilic, e.g. wool) 

• Integration of health-monitoring tools into textiles (e.g. 

monitor blood pressure, heartbeat, body fluids) 

• Smart textiles to evoke memories of absent people 

• Thermoregulation 

• Prevent odor 

Products 

• Date-to-date clothing 

• Cloths for ageing people with dementia 

• Intelligent/smart cloths 

• Adaptive cloths 

• Underwear, socks 


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TEX PRODUCTS FOR HYG AND PERSONAL CARE 

Properties 

• Superabsorbent properties 


• Membrane-like fibre (hydrophobic/hydrophilic) 

• Prevent odor 

• Disposable vs. non-disposable (?) 

Products 

• Inflated fibres (uncollapsed; collabsed – trilobal) 

• bi- or multi- component fibre (islands-in-the-sea) 

• Towels 

• Incontinence pads 


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THERAP AND RECREAT/LEISURE TEXTILES 

Properties 

• Release therapeutic substance 

• “Soft touch” 


• Membrane-like fibre (hydrophobic/hydrophilic) 

• Thermoregulation 

• Improve comfort 

Products 

• Therapeutic bandages 

• Decubitus pads 

• Compression stocking 

• Leisure and outdoor cloths 


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GENERAL SCHEME 

(WORK PACKAGES) 

Companies, manufacturers, institutions, etc. outside the TAGS Consortium are 

welcomed to joint us! 

Information on aspects of productions (chem. consumptions, effluents, sustainability, LCA): 

• Providing 

• Spreading 

• Getting 

New concepts/solutions 

Concentrating of new ideas 

Common understanding 

between research institutions, industrial partners and 

end-users 

Collection of Information 

Identification of present state of the art, problem areas, 

demand, definition of requirements 


● Initiation of new 

projects/cooperations 

● New innovation 

products

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION 

“The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union’s 

Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement No. 290494.”

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