Knit e-pedia: about

About

The Challenge

The UK textile industry faces the challenge of moving from competition based cost to competing on unique value and innovation. Individual textile companies face structural economic change due to cheap imports; a change which has been accelerated by the global move towards a knowledge-based economy. At the same time UK companies are adopting enhanced equal opportunities policies.

The Need

UK textiles companies need support to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to innovate in manufacturing methods and products. Innovations in fibre-based materials have a significant impact on product development in energy, health, and communications technology. With technology transfer from universities, the UK has the potential for high impact in niche areas such as medical, smart and performance materials.

The Solution

The Knowledge for Innovation (K4I) project based at The University of Manchester has developed a methodology to help textiles companies adapt successfully by focusing on skills and knowledge.