Launch of the Théophile Legrand International Prize for textile Innovation 2015 - Appeal for application submissions

A new formula for the Théophile Legrand textile Innovation Award, under the authority of the “Union of Textile Industries” and the “Institut de France”

 

For its sixth edition, the Théophile Legrand International textile Innovation award is amending its regulations and establishes two categories for the delivery of two different prices for the same amount of € 8,000. Candidates can now come from a research laboratory, a textile engineer school or laboratory of a textile company. To be considered, the project which will be submitted should not be commercialized. Researchers have until January 31, 2015 to submit their applications.

 

Created in 2009 in Fourmies (France - Nord) by Dominique and Christian Cambier, founders of the Théophile Legrand Foundation - Institut de France, the International Théophile Legrand Textile Innovation Award has now been under the authority of the “Union of textiles industries” since 2014, trade union representing the diversity of French textile regions and branches, working closely with the “Institut de France”.

 

Two Textile Innovation Awards in 2015

 - The " Théophile Legrand Innovation in Textile Industry Service Price " will be awarded at  the Capital 8  conference center in Paris on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 as part of the "Textile Day" event organized by the “Union des Industries Textiles”.

- The “ Théophile Legrand Textile Innovation at the service of man price" will be handed over at the Ecomuseum of Avesnois, textile and social life museum in Fourmies, birthplace of Théophile Legrand and Christian Cambier (department Nord in France), on Saturday, March 21, 2015.

 

Both prizes will be awarded to researchers, PhD students, Master students and engineering students under alternate work and study contract able to invent the textiles of tomorrow, by the original creation of a fibre, a fabric or new ways of innovative textile industrial production. The project can be submitted by an individual candidate or a team of researchers. The aim is to promote the textile innovation, research, emulation and imagination highlighting the technical or industrial design.

 The winner selection criteria have not changed. The inventors of new textile fibres or new textile production ways must demonstrate creativity, originality and innovation in the design of their project. Transferability to the industrial process is mandatory. The innovation must be made feasible and reproducible within reasonably profitable conditions. Its functionality and usefulness must be recognizable or easily identifiable.

 

60 candidates from 22 different nations since the 2009 Price

 With candidates from all over the world (North America, Asia, Africa, Europe, Middle East, Pacific ...), the Théophile Legrand price has become in 5 years the largest one in the world. It is the best endowed in the field of Textile Innovation (€ 16,000 price). Since its setting up in 2009, 60 candidates have applied for this award. From 22 different nations (USA, China, Great Britain, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Pakistan, Lithuania, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, New Zealand, Thailand, Bangladesh, India, Romania, Mali, Tunisia, Syria, Republic of Kazakhstan and Hungary), these 60 candidates are from the 24 largest universities, engineering textiles schools or textile research laboratories in Europe, Asia and North America.

 

An international reference

 In six years, this award has become a reference for major international textile engineer schools and professionals from the textile industry. Resulting with concrete products, obtaining this award is an important international recognition on the resume of a selected candidate and a winner. Several of them have then entered into pre-industrialization phases or marketing of their inventions by subcontractors in the automotive and aerospace or large textile industries. Other innovations of the Théophile Legrand price have been used in creations designed by international designers. These avant-garde concepts were presented at the "Futurotextiles" exhibition in Paris or on the occasion of fashion shows at Louvre in Paris, in Salvador de Bahia in Brazil, in Cali, Colombia, in Halifax, Canada, or in Algiers, Algeria.

 

From Intelligent textiles to bright textiles, from "self-cleaning and antibacterial" fibers to  "Obstacle detector", garment  through the development of a "valve stent" prosthetic textile fiber and the creation of a new  method of wool colouring, the first five editions of the Théophile Legrand Awards have sometimes honored  revolutionary processes, which have now become applications in many areas: medical, military, athletic, aerospace, automotive, luxury ready to wear, sustainable development...

 

Contact / Information:

- Paul Schuler, coordinator of the Textile Innovation price > Email: theophile-legrand@hotmail.fr / Mailing address: Price for the “Théophile Legrand Innovation Textile” - Paul Schuler / SP & C Agency - BP 40 035 - 59612 Fourmies Cedex - France

- Emmanuelle Butaud-Stubbs, Union of Textile Industries > Email: ebutaud@textile.fr / Mailing Address: UIT - 37-39 rue de Neuilly - 92110 Clichy

Website: www.theophilelegrand.com