Episode 1: UPWEARS Project I New Zealand: A Horizon Europe Success Story

Описание: New Zealand is an associated country in Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe, the world's largest multilateral research and innovation programme. New Zealand-based researchers and organisations can join or lead Horizon Europe projects and receive funding on equal terms with their European counterparts.

Building on New Zealand's strong start in Horizon Europe, EURAXESS Australia & New Zealand presents New Zealand: A Horizon Europe Success Story—a feature series showcasing Horizon Europe projects involving New Zealand institutions.

In the first episode, we highlight UPWEARS (Sustainable solutions for upgraded smart wearables and equipment in sport), a Horizon Europe project where Scion (New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited), a Crown Research Institute, plays a key role.

UPWEARS is a four-year project led by INRAE, France's National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment. The project started in May 2024, and brings together 15 partners from seven countries. Scion will play a central role in the project and contribute approximately NZD$3m of research to the project.

It aims to develop a sustainable e-textile (electrically conductive textile) using cork, hemp, flax and paper byproducts, and develop ways to recycle and reuse textile waste. The overall aim is to contribute to a sustainable economy by unlocking the potential of bio-based and hybrid fabrics. To demonstrate the e-textile, the team will create high-performance clothing for biking that is abrasion and tear-resistant, waterproof or repellant, stretchable, and breathable. The product will also be biodegradable, and this will be tested in Scion’s biodegradation facility in Rotorua.

Scion’s expertise in sustainable electronics will be used to create flexible sensors from biomaterials for integration into the clothing, sending temperature and humidity data to a user’s device. Scion will lead in turning recovered textile waste into filament or pellets for 3D printing meaning the clothing will be recyclable and a zero-waste product. Scion will also contribute to using AI/machine learning to optimise the production process reducing waste and increasing zero-defect products.

Overall, the project will help with the transition to a modern textile fabrication process using natural fibres and reducing waste during and post-production.

Scientists Dr Yi Chen and Dr Marie-Joo Le Guen will be leading Scion’s science team. Chen says involvement in the bid came after the establishment of the International Associated Lab for biobased products, LIA BIOMATA, in 2023 forming a collaborative partnership between Scion and INRAE and providing an ideal framework for the development of larger partnerships.

While Horizon Europe funding is mostly for projects that will further the EU on the world stage, Chen says it also benefits New Zealand by attracting leading researchers and state of the art technology and raising our profile with future international collaborators.

Dr Alec Foster, Scion’s Bioproducts and Packaging Portfolio lead says work like this helps progress a circular bioeconomy and being involved in such a globally significant project is a privilege for Scion.

He says being part of such transformative project with European partners “underscores Scion’s commitment to making a significant and positive difference in the world with new technologies”.
MBIE and Horizon Europe will support Scion's involvement in the project.

The other organisations involved include research organisations, universities and textiles companies from France, Sweden, Portugal, Italy, Belgium and the United Kingdom covering the technical e-textile value chain, from fibre to prototype manufacturing and testing, as well as stakeholder engagement and market analysis.

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