Bioinspired and biomimetic materials for sustainable textiles (IA)

Proposals should address at least three of the following activities:

• Bio-inspired and biomimetic polymers for use as smart textile materials will provide improved functionalities, e.g. for outdoor use.
• The molecular functionalities of natural polymers, and their macromolecular structures and properties, provide inspiration for designing different classes of high-performance polymeric materials that aim to reproduce specific functions of natural polymers, such as adaptability, self-healing, adhesiveness, surface super-hydrophobicity, chiral recognition, and bioactivity.
• Biodegradability and recyclability of polymers will be a factor, so the consideration of natural polymers, such as polysaccharides, proteins, lignin-based polymers and composites could be a pathway. This is expected to translate into lower GHG-emissions in the textiles value chain, as well as reducing landfill waste volumes.
• Projects must prove scalability of biomimetic materials for the manufacturing process of smart fabrics and sustainable textiles.
• To enable a fast development of new advanced materials, digital tools such as modelling, simulation and characterisation techniques (including those provided by analytical infrastructures) are under the scope, assisted by advanced methods, e.g. physics-based methods, machine learning or artificial intelligence.

Dovetailing with digital technology, e.g. sensors, is encouraged.

Materials and products should be developed under Safe and Sustainable by Design framework[[See documents defining the SSbD framework on: http://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/research-area/industrial-research-and-innovation/key-enabling-technologies/advanced-materials-and-chemicals_en]] taking into account circularity aspects, and with prognostic and product health management to ensure product and system reliability.

Proposals submitted under this topic should include a business case and exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination.

Projects should build on or seek collaboration with existing projects and develop synergies with other relevant European, national or regional initiatives, funding programmes and platforms.