As part of its networking and innovation activities, the Smart Textiles Platform Austria organized the Spring Event 2026 entitled “Ressourcenwende 2026” on 11 May 2026 in Lustenau. The event was jointly organized with the ATIMA project and focused on the Austrian funding call “Ressourcenwende 2026”, bringing together stakeholders from research, industry, public institutions, and innovation networks to discuss sustainable transformation pathways and future innovation opportunities.
The event addressed key challenges related to resource efficiency, circular economy approaches, sustainable value chains, and innovative material and production solutions. The programme included a presentation by Alexander Pogany (Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure), who provided an overview of the funding call and its strategic objectives. Clarissa Rhomberg (Zirkulie) presented practical examples of circular construction, while Jonas Steinmetz (Studio Acker) discussed the role of planning and design as key enablers of the resource transition.
Further contributions focused on material innovation and circularity. Gabriele Ettenberger-Bornberg (OFI) addressed challenges and testing methods for safe circular textile systems, highlighting issues relevant to sustainable textile value chains. Patrick Denzler (Johannes Kepler University Linz) presented approaches using UV tags to support textile sorting and digital product passport concepts. In addition, Frank Böhler, Federal Guild Master of the Austrian Plastics Processors, discussed current transformation processes and future developments within the plastics industry.
Beyond the presentations, the event provided a platform for networking and exchange between participants from different sectors. Discussions focused on the development of collaborative project ideas, potential consortium building, and the identification of synergies between stakeholders working on sustainable materials, circular systems, and resource-efficient technologies. The event successfully connected expertise from research, industry, and implementation-oriented organizations and encouraged the initiation of future innovation projects.
The event directly supported the objectives of the ATIMA project by facilitating knowledge transfer and cross-sectoral collaboration in the field of advanced materials and sustainable innovation. Through the exchange of expertise and the presentation of practical examples from different industries, participants gained valuable insights into circular economy strategies, material innovation, and resource-efficient production approaches.
