CRE.THI.DEV. is a non-profit company aiming at community development through research and the development of action plans, focused on local economies, mainly in the fields of life-long learning, environmental protection, employment and local development. The company maintains a close cooperation with local and regional authorities, universities, companies, technological centers, organisations, vocational training centers, government authorities and business associations in order to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, exchange of knowledge and technology and sustainable development through research. In this framework the company organizes and promotes studies and research projects and participates in European projects. CRE.THI.DEV. currently has 10 members and a large network of scientists from various disciplines.

UMinho is a research University, engaged in the valorization of the chain Knowledge-Research, Development and Innovation. The ratio between PhD students and academic staff is over 1; the fraction of postgraduate students in the total student population is over 20%; the ratio between research projects and PhDs is over 0.5; around 150 PhDs are awarded every year; the average yearly production of refereed papers in scientific journals is impressive for an eclectic University: above 2/FTE/year; citations are strongly increasing every year; 250 R&D contracts are signed yearly with companies.
The performance of the University of Minho in attracting funding for R&D activities has been gradually consolidated.
The recent Global The Times Higher Education Ranking 2013 included only 2 Portuguese Universities, listing both UMinho and UPorto within the top 400 Universities in the World. Moreover, the Times list for the top 100 universities under 50 years old, ranks UMinho in the 76th position worldwide. UPorto is also ranked in the range 301-400 of the 2013 Academic Ranking of World Universities (by the Shangai Jiao Tong University).
Both universities support a network of research units across virtually all fields of science, including Physical Sciences & Engineering, Life Sciences and Social Sciences & Humanities.

The Institute for Technology Transfer and Innovations (ITTI) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, a registered alliance, according to the Law for Judicial Entities with Non-profit Purposes. ITTI works toward the creation and the development of a national innovation infrastructure, the spreading of new knowledge, the stimulation of technological entrepreneurship, the transfer of knowledge and technologies and the market application of innovative products. The activities of the Institute serve as a mechanism for the development and financing of research, development and application of innovations.Critical focus in the work of the Institute is the development of cooperation between the business and the scientific community.ITTI carries out the functions of a territorial agency for the promotion of innovations in SMEs. It has gained significant experience in delivering consulting services to SMEs and in conducting training courses in an interactive manner using various techniques.

CIAPE is the Italian Centre for Permanent Learning, a non profit private organisation. It exists as an Association of Learners to promote the development of a learning society through the provision of a quality and comprehensive system of adult learning and education which is accessible to and inclusive of all. CIAPE is the transnational coordinator of the “Quality Apprenticeships European Network”, a network involving businesses and VET organisations from 20 different countries in a European Network for the certification of learning outcomes deriving from apprenticeships experiences. CIAPE is a member of the CEDEFOP “European Qualifications Framework – Credit Transfer In VET” and of the “Quality Assurance in VET” communities. CIAPE implements research and training activities aimed at the development and validation of transversal skills as well as of the new skills required by the labour market.
Ciape is an innovative project, born with the aim to lead to success a constantly changing community.
Only lifelong learning can guarantee the individual competitiveness in a global labour market.
But training offer must be reshaped, and focused on the new exigencies of adult learners, often busy and with very specific goals.
CIAPE proposes innovative and effective solutions suiting to the new socio-economic situation. The key-words: self-fulfilment, occupability, professional adaptability, active citizenship and social inclusion.

“Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi is a prestigious Romanian university, ranked as a university for advanced research and education.
The Faculty of Textiles, Leather and Industrial Management is one of the 11th faculties of TUIASI. It organizes three study levels (BSc, MSc and PhD), each for three domains (Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Industrial Management). The Faculty (www.tpmi.tuiasi.ro) is known at European and national level for its high quality study programs, technological transfer, research, consultancy, and training support. The faculty has strong connection with the industry, and over the years it has created an effective networking with business community.

The Department of Textile Engineering of the Piraeus University of Applied Sciences (Technological Education Institute of Piraeus) belongs to the School Of Engineering. It was founded in 1983 and it began its academic activity in the same year. This department is renowned for the quality of its teaching and of its students, the public recognition given to its Alumni, and also for its intervention and strong links both with the private and public sector related to textile matters. The department accepts over 150 students each academic year. It has 17 permanent staff members of which 6 are professors, 4 assistant professors, 4 lecturers and 3 technicians. It has also 34 people working as part time professors or lecturers, most of which hold Ph.D degree. All the permanent and part time staff has considerable practical and research experience in the relevant sector where they teach. Many of the academic staff are members in national, European and International committees. The department of Textiles has participated in a number of National and International conferences and it has organized many scientific activities. It has also participated (or been leader) in many European Projects. Its fully equipped laboratories provide the technical infrastructure and hence the scientific knowledge that can guarantee a full, all-round education and training to students of the department as well as to members of the textile industry.

Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) is the largest technical university in the Baltic States. More than 10000 students study and more than 1000 academic staff and researchers work in the university. University has been established in 1922 and since 1932 have studies in textile engineering. All three levels of studies in textile and fashion engineering are in the KTU – bachelor, master and doctoral. Since this time more than 3000 textile engineers, bachelors or masters, and more than 100 doctors graduate textile studies in KTU. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Design is only one in Lithuania, which have the studies of Textile Engineering. KTU is a member of international Association of Universities for Textiles (AUTEX, office in Ghent, Belgium) and Lithuanian Apparel and Textile Industry Association (LATIA). KTU in textile sector has several individual cooperation agreements each year in the field of R&D and education with SME’s. Several projects financed by EU, Lithuanian Government or industrial companies are generated in each year.

Agrupació d’Empreses Innovadores Tèxtils (AEI TÈXTILS) is a non-profit association, which has the aim to join all Catalan companies and organizations related directly or indirectly to the technical textiles sector and which form a specialized productive area with competitive advantages.

Material ConneXion® is a global materials consultancy with a track record of bringing innovative designs to life through smart materials and design thinking. It maintains the world’s largest subscription-based materials Library with thousands of innovative materials and processes accessible online, hosted in 7 independent offices and several satellite libraries all around the globe. Founded in 2002, Material ConneXion® Italia was the first subsidiary office established and provides ever since consulting services to various kind of design firms and manufacturing companies. The office in Milan hosts a Library of more than 4,000 physical materials, of which about 2,500 are permanently exhibited.