Switzerland’s textile and clothing industry has a long history. To remain competitive globally, the industry relies on innovations. The Sustainable Biomedicine Textiles research initiative was set up by Empa and Swiss Textiles, the Swiss textile industry association, for this very purpose. Through innovative approaches and knowledge transfer, researchers and players are working tirelessly together to promote innovations in the field of biomedical textiles, and to bring them to the market more rapidly.

René Rossi, Subitex Project Manager and Head of Empa's Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles lab says the company needs to give up the idea that development of textiles revolves around cotton T-shirts. Their research is focused on a wide range of ceramic, metal, wood, and synthetic fibers.

Many Swiss textile companies have also recognized this, successfully transforming themselves into specialist manufacturers of highly technical and high-quality products. They have networked intensively with researchers and have skilfully occupied economic niches. Empa offers its services as a research partner precisely because it draws a line from basic research, as in the case of the "Zurich Heart" project, all the way to products that are close to the market. For example, it has developed optical fibers that are used in hospitals to measure the vital functions of premature babies, or as biosensors with pH-sensitive fibers to monitor wounds. Other examples of applications include textile pressure sensors that can be installed in wheelchairs, for instance, in order to show incorrect pressure loads; textile plasters that release medication in a targeted way and a wettable chest strap that can be reliably used for long-term monitoring of electrocardiograms for cardiovascular patients.