Abit International Congress 2016 – Panel 4: Innovation through materials

02/06/2016

How to innovate through fibers? This questioning was the guiding principle of Fernando Cunha, Coordinator of Fibrenamics – international platform of innovation in materials and products based on fiber, on the second day of Abit International Congress 2016 in Sao Paulo. The key note speaker showed how the University of Minho in Portugal has been seeking what is most innovative in fibers that will give life to new products. “We research new applications both for conventional fibers and those that require special care in the application of new technologies”, he highlighted. 

Fernando Cunha, University of Minho (Portugal)

Fernando Cunha was also the panel mediator who addressed innovation through materials. “Today we live in the world of ‘wearables’“, emphasized Sundaresan Jayaraman, a Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA.  “Textiles and electronics are converging”, he added. As to Ricardo Steinbruch, CEO of Vicunha, he commented on innovation with raw materials.  “We don’t sell only one product, but rather the concept, technology and value of the company through fabrics.” The company is the largest of indigo and denim in Latin America and one of the three largest in the sector. How to bring this technology to consumers was the point explored by Renato Boaventura, CEO of Rhodia, which has been operating for almost 100 years in Brazil. “It is necessary to bring solutions to the end user in order to get to him”, he said. Linda Keppinger, CEO of Materials Move, stressed the innovative potential of Brazilian companies. 

Innovation through materials is the theme of the panel

Photos Credit: Ricardo K.