Throughout 2025, the UPWEARS project is making its presence felt at key international conferences. From Lisbon to Christchurch, researchers and industrial partners are hitting the stage to share cutting-edge results in bio-based electronic textiles, shaping a future where innovation meets sustainability.
Here’s a look at where UPWEARS has been and where it’s headed next.
Bio-Based Textiles in Clothing: Europe 2025 – Helsinki, January 15, 2025
To kick off the year, Sofiane Guessasma from INRAE represented the UPWEARS project at the Bio-Based Textiles in Clothing: Europe 2025 conference in Helsinki. His intervention opened the floor to in-depth discussions on the future of bio-based textile applications in the clothing sector, with a strong emphasis on research-driven innovation. The event brought together a scientific audience eager to explore the latest advancements in sustainable materials.
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AMN11 – Advanced Materials & Nanotechnology Conference – Christchurch, New Zealand | February 9, 2025
On February 9, at the AMN11 in Christchurch, Yi Chen from SCION presented a key innovation emerging from the UPWEARS project. Her talk focused on the integration of lignin-derived conductive carbon sensors into electronic textile, pushing the boundaries of bio-based materials toward smart, sustainable solutions for environmental monitoring. The presentation resonated with both academic researchers and industry professionals exploring next-generation materials.
👉 Event highlight
Bioket, Brussels | March 11, 2025
At BIOKET 2025, held on March 11 in Brussels, the UPWEARS project was represented by B4C, taking part in one of the leading events dedicated to the bioeconomy and process innovation. This high-level forum offered a valuable opportunity to present UPWEARS’ vision for sustainable, bio-based electronic textiles to a targeted audience of researchers and industry stakeholders, and to foster new synergies around circular and high-performance materials.
iTechStyle Summit 2025, Porto | May 26–28, 2025
From May 26 to 28, the iTechStyle Summit 2025 took place in Porto, at the historic Alfândega do Porto, gathering major stakeholders from the textile, defense, automotive, and health sectors. Representing the UPWEARS project, CITEVE presented a digital poster that highlighted the project’s ambitions in smart, bio-based, and sustainable textile innovation. Topics such as AI integration, bio-based textile development, and circular economy approaches drew the attention of both researchers and industry professionals.
👉 Recap
ICNF – International Conference on Natural Fibers, Lisbon | June 16, 2025
On June 16, the International Conference on Natural Fibers (ICNF) took place in Lisbon, where Hoel Tricou Le Pennec from UBS presented cutting-edge research conducted within the UPWEARS project. His contribution focused on the UV resistance of flax fibers, a key component in the development of a recyclable, high-performance biking suit designed to meet outdoor durability standards and user expectations. The presentation drew the attention of both scientific and industrial participants interested in bio-based performance materials.
👉 Conference page
Looking ahead to the final quarter of 2025, UPWEARS continues its momentum with two high-level conference appearances that will spotlight the project’s contributions to sustainable textile innovation and lifecycle thinking.
This fall, the UPWEARS project heads to Palermo for the Life Cycle Management Conference (LCM), a major gathering of experts in sustainability and systems thinking. Representing KU Leuven, Lola Eelen will present the project’s work on integrated life cycle sustainability assessment for wearable e-textiles. Her session will focus on constructing a detailed Life Cycle Inventory, a foundational step in evaluating the environmental impact of textile innovations across their entire lifespan. The intervention aims to bridge scientific rigor with practical tools for more accountable material development.
Just weeks later, UPWEARS will take the stage again, this time in Denmark, at the Absolute Sustainability Conference 2025. KU Leuven’s Lola Eelen will delve into ecodesign principles tailored for the next generation of electronic textiles. Her talk will spotlight strategies to enhance recyclability, improve component sorting, and facilitate textile afterlife management, all aligned with circular economy goals. It’s a timely discussion as the industry seeks scalable pathways to reduce waste and extend material value.
Curious to go deeper into bio-based innovation?
Take your expertise to the next level this September at the 3rd European Summer School on Bio-based Composites (ESBBC-3) in Cambridge!
| When? 15–17 September 2025 Where? University of Cambridge |
Whether you’re a student, researcher, or industry professional, this 2.5-day event is your chance to connect with the community, explore the latest developments in sustainable composites, and learn directly from leading EU projects like SSUCHY-Next and UPWEARS.
Spots are limited : register now
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