Posted October 10, 2017

 

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced it will partner with the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) to co-host the Smart Fabrics Summit 2018 on April 24, 2018 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, in Washington, D.C.

 

Recent advances in technology have brought together the apparel, technology and textile industries to develop new capabilities in fabrics with the potential to change how athletes, patients, soldiers, first responders and everyday consumers interact with their clothes and other textile products.

 

Known as “smart fabrics,” these new high-tech products have the ability to interact with their user or the environment, including tracking and communicating data about their wearer or environment to other devices through embedded sensors and conductive yarns. The applications for these new capabilities are broad with most smart fabric product development currently seen in the fields of defense, sports/fitness, health and public safety.

 

Reaching the market’s full potential will require not just overcoming technical challenges but also bridging differences in how these distinct industries approach product development and addressing various public policy issues, including trade policy.

 

Through a day of panel discussions and industry demonstrations, the summit will:

 

• Bring together industries that need to collaborate in order for the emerging smart fabrics industry to meet its full potential and accelerate its development by U.S. manufacturers;

• Improve mutual understanding of the needs of private sector industries and the roles of public sector agencies; and

• Spur original thinking among public and private sector organizations about how new or existing policies affect current and future smart fabrics products.

 

The issues that will be explored at the Smart Fabrics Summit include: (1) research and development funding, (2) intellectual property, (3) standards, (4) data security and privacy, and (5) product development trends.

 

Presenters sought

 

IFAI is looking for members of the Advanced Textiles Products division to present at the summit. The conference theme is "Smart Fabrics: Getting Smarter | Emerging Trends in Research, Technology and Public Policy." 
 

The association is seeking proposals that demonstrate your smart fabric product, your smart fabric product underdevelopment and /or your collaboration with another company in this market. 

Speaking at the 2018 Smart Fabrics Summit offers the following benefits:

 

• Complimentary conference registration;

• Recognition at www.smartfabricssummit.com;

• Recognition in the conference printed program;

• Creating valuable and lasting professional contacts; and

• Ability to demonstration your product/service to the industry.

Criteria for proposals and session format:

 

• Typically 30 minutes in length;

• Typically led by one individual; could also be a team; and

• Smart Fabrics Summit will provide screen, projector, laptop, podium, remote clicker and microphone.

 

Terms and conditions for speakers:

 

• Travel and related expenses are the speaker's responsibility;

• Permission for IFAI to distribute the presentation PDF (or a substitute document in lieu of the presentation) to event attendees.

 

Proposal submission process

 

The call for proposals is open through Nov. 15, 2017. Please submit proposal ideas to Kara Austrum here.

1. Email Subject line: 2018 Smart Fabrics Summit Proposal 
2. First name, last name, professional title, organization, email, phone 
3. Tentative presentation ritle

4. Description of presentation

5. 3-5 key takeaways

6. If applicable, company or relevant website pertaining to presentation 

Proposals will be reviewed by IFAI and the US Department of Commerce staff using criteria such as: relevance to the Smart Fabrics industry, originality of material, overall perceived quality of proposal content, timeliness of topic, well defined focus and perceived takeaway value for the audience. For more information visit www.smartfabricssummit.com.

 

Source: IFAI