The 61^st Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress (GFC) held in Austria from September 14-16 after two years, hosted more than 550 participants from over 30 countries. Visitors and speakers were able to expand their network to push forward the necessary developments. The Austrian Fiber Institute hosted the Dornbirn GFC on location and as an online on demand version.

At the conference, presentations on topics such as fibre innovations; sustainability, circular economy and recycling; smart functional surface; nonwovens; and apparel and sports were presented in the 3 halls at the venue.

The 61st Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress (GFC) held in Austria from September 14-16 after two years, hosted more than 550 participants from over 30 countries. Visitors and speakers were able to expand their network to push forward the necessary developments. The Austrian Fiber Institute hosted the Dornbirn GFC on location and as an online on demand version.

Dornbirn GFC online on demand is available from September 19-October 2, 2022. It will offer the opening of the Dornbirn GFC 2022, awarding of the Paul Schlack Prize, CEO panel with keynote speakers, 100 expert lectures from industry, universities and research institutes, discussion session with the speakers, and exhibition area.

The Paul Schlack/Wilhelm Albrecht Prize 2022 was awarded to following innovative projects: Dr. Robert Tonndorf. TU Dresden, ITM, convinced the jury with his project: ‘Development of manufacturing technologies for the production of biomimetic fibre-based scaffolds from collagen for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine’. The honorary prize was awarded to Leonie Reinders, DIFT Denkendorf. She convinced the jury with her project: ‘Development of novel oxide ceramic fibres for high-temperature applications’. The award ceremony was organised and conducted by Frederic van Houte, CIRFS, the organiser said in a media release.

For the Young Scientist Award powered by Lenzing AG, a jury of fibre industry specialists and Lenzing AG nominated the 3 winners from numerous applications. On the opening day, the prize of €5,000 per winner, was awarded at the gala evening in the Messe Dornbirn. Women power was the motto of the 3 winners of the Young Scientist Award of Lenzing AG.

The winners were Chanawan (Kao) Danpan, Flower Matter, Berlin (GER) for ‘Flower Matter – Enable a circularity into the cut-flower industry through regenerative biobased materials’; Petra Garajová, Fabricademy – Textile and Technology Academy, Nové Zámky (SVK) for ‘States of Matter – Wool fibres and non-traditional methods’; and Annah-Ololade Sangosanya, Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, Barcelona (ESP) for ‘The Purhyphae Project: Textile recycling using mycelium’.

In October, the traditional ‘Call for Papers’ for the technical presentations will be published. At the 62^nd Dornbirn GFC 2022, the 3^rd Innovation Days will take place and there will also be a separate ‘Call for Papers’. Start-ups and young innovative companies can present their company and innovative products by December 31.

The 62^nd Dornbirn GFC 2023 will take place form September 13-15, 2023, in Dornbirn.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)