Article published metis
Intelligent textiles using nanotechnologies
How can the capabilities of micro and nanotechnologies be integrated into traditional industries? Métis responds by merging the skills pool in industrial groups, mainly SMEs in the textile, paper, printing or plastic film sector, with that of CEA researchers.
Backed by local authorities, the platform aims to launch new products and processes by using supple substrate instrumentation, surface-treatment processes, nanomaterial and energy for mobile applications. After its creation in 2004, Metes created several research projects recognized at a European level: NanOptex, labelled as part of the Techtera competitiveness cluster, which develops nanoparticles to assign innovative optic effects to textile or paper substrates, without altering their intrinsic properties; or Hémimarche, whose objective is based on positioning movement sensors in a orthosis to measure walking patterns in a quantitative manner. Key facture in Métis success: the diversity of partners and projects (in four years, 14 patents have been filed). All this is achieved whilst continuing to retain the same positioning criteria on technical markets with high added-value. Any new requests are studied by the Métis steering committee, composed of CEA, the Isère General Council, AEPI and the platform's founding consortium (Sofileta, Thuasne, Siegl HTH, Arjowiggins SAS et Rexor).
