LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN
“TechXtile Start-Up Challenge” – the concept where high tech, added value products and export targets meet As a prestigious world brand in almost all segments of the textile industry Turkish products are preferred for their added value and quality rather then their prices. Strengthened mainly in only the clothing and home textile industry 15 years ago, Turkey stepped forward with value added, smart and technical textile products to compete with cheap products arose notably from Far East. As a world brand in all these specific segments Turkey has been a country preferred to source products especially in the contract market. Investments in technical textiles grow exponentially in Turkey in recent years. Many companies in the field of technical textiles prove their global success by playing an important role in the international market. In parallel with the developments in the world markets, production of technical textiles and product diversity gradually increase in Turkey.
TechXtile Start-Up Challenge To increase added value in exports in the textile sector, to gain new technologies and methods to the industry, do design innovative products, to encourage new initiators and designers and to empower industry-academy cooperation, an important event is organized by UTIB titled “TechXtile Start-Up Challenge” for the 11th time in Bursa, 22-23 October 2019. The finalists will win a lot of advantages and awards including participation in Startup Incubators and Accelerators Program in Milan for 10 days, mentorship support for one year, opportunity to win TRL 200 thousand from TUBITAK in the framework of ULUKOZA Program, meeting expenses of establishing a com4
pany, one year accounting works support, and getting the benefits of the advantages of Incubation Center of Bursa Technical University. Applied as a first in the sector and forming an excellent example for whole industries by Uludag Textile Exporters’ Association (UTIB) with the support of Bursa Eskişehir Bilecik Development Agency (BEBKA) and Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO), the event “International R&D Project Market in Turkish Textile and Apparel Sector”, will be held at Merinos Atatürk Congress and Cultural Center this year with its new concept, 22-23 October 2019. We have recorded significant successes in realizing R&D activities supported by commercializing of project ideas and innovation in our event organized with the cooperation of university-industry for ten years. However, with an aim to push the exports and the textile and ready made garment industries of our country further, we will accept project applications focused on initiation-oriented, commercializing nature and directly applicable in the industry from our initiative nominees. During our preparation processes performed strictly and supported by field activities, we had a chance to know the industrialists better and to understand what they really expect from us. This way we formed the fields and focus of the projects directly with the expectations of the industrialists. We will continue as “TechXtile Start-Up Challenge” with our new concept where high tech, added value products and export targets will meet. We will train
PINAR TAŞDELEN ENGİN
President, Uludag Textile Exporters’ Association
project applicants from the first process of our organization and we will lead them to contribute to the export targets of our country. We have been offering contemporary services by supporting the promotion of our industry with events on the one hand we have been rendering efficient services with the media wing on the other. We have been carrying the messages of our exporters to the right addresses through the rich and professional contents of TFF and Contract Business magazines. We will be at Intertextile Shanghai, Heimtextil Russia and The Hotel Show Dubai fairs with this issue of CONTRACT BUSINESS. I wish success to all of our industrialists and business partners. serving the industry with activities on innovation, value added products and contemporary designs. August/2019
