{"map":[],"data":[{"id":934,"pid":5,"tstamp":1784103645,"headline":"Kick-off for EU project on circular textile production in Europe \u2013 Steinbeis Europa Zentrum and DITF once again showcase successful collaboration in securing EU Funding","alias":"kick-off-for-eu-project-on-circular-textile-production-in-europe-steinbeis-europa-zentrum-and-ditf-once-again-showcase-successful-collaboration-in-securing-eu-funding","author":"Anette Mack","date":"15.07.2026","time":"10:16","pageTitle":"Kick-off for EU project on circular textile production in Europe \u2013 Steinbeis Europa Zentrum and DITF once again showcase successful collaboration in securing EU Funding","robots":"index,follow","description":"","subheadline":"","teaser":"

Steinbeis Europa Zentrum once again has successfully supported the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) in preparing and submitting an EU project proposal. The ALADIN project has secured \u20ac5 million in EU funding under the Horizon Europe programme for a duration of four years. Following BioFibreLoop<\/a> and FABULOSE<\/a>, ALADIN is now the third EU innovation project whose concept has been developed jointly by DITF and Steinbeis Europa Zentrum. The proposal was led and prepared entirely by Steinbeis Europa Zentrum.<\/p>\n

In ALADIN, ten partners from industry, research, technology transfer, and innovation support aim to establish viable business models for circular textile production in Europe.<\/p>\n

As of today, most textile products consumed in Europe are manufactured abroad, with more than 80% produced outside Europe. This model often relies on lower labour costs and environmental and social standards. At the same time, 20\u201330% of all garments worldwide remain unsold each year. Given these implications, the currently prevailing industrial model is not sustainable. To bring back textile manufacturing to Europe in the long-term, industrial models and processes have to take a shift towards sustainability, circular economy principles, and above all, demand-driven production.<\/p>\n

For textile production to be sustainable, supply chains have to be shorter and overproduction prevented. This can already be achieved today by connecting and efficiently using existing infrastructures. Circular textile production can be achieved by taking up innovative technologies and materials that enable high-quality recycling and reuse.<\/p>\n

This is precisely what the EU-funded project ALADIN, coordinated by the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF), sets out to change. ALADIN stands for \u201c<\/strong>Advanced LocAl and Digital Innovation Network for Circular Garments\u201d and aims to establish viable business models for circular and demand-oriented textile production in Europe.<\/p>\n

The project unites ten project partners from six European countries (Germany, Romania, Belgium, France, Czechia, Italy) representing a combined expertise [nbsp]of design, embroidery, printing, digitalisation, recycling, artificial intelligence, microfactory production, and innovation management. Together, these partners are developing a powerful digital platform for B2B and B2B2C relationships in textile manufacturing while advancing the implementation of new technologies and business models. ALADIN promotes textile production in microfactories, enabling flexible adaptation to individual customer needs and ultimately paving the way for a Europe-wide network of microfactories.<\/p>\n

Steinbeis Europa Zentrum led and prepared the EU proposal preparations, including coordinating partner contributions, roles and respective project tasks and activities. Steinbeis Europa Zentrum adds to ALADIN\u2019s objectives through target-oriented and strategic communication and dissemination activities, through fostering results uptake through exploitation activities and IPR management, and through management of ALADIN\u2019s two Open Calls.<\/p>\n

Three ALADIN Use Cases<\/strong><\/p>\n

To validate the approach, three specific use cases will be implemented:<\/p>\n