2.1 Smart Textiles: from ideas to impact - part two

In this episode, we continue our exploration of smart textiles and ask a simple but powerful question: What becomes possible when we start asking better questions? From textiles that monitor health, generate electricity and protect healthcare workers to materials that could support communication, mobility and independence, we meet the researchers, entrepreneurs and innovators imagining what textiles might do in the future, and debating what kind of future we want them to create.  

Discover: 

• How smart textiles are evolving from passive materials into active technologies that can sense, communicate and generate energy 

• How smart textiles could improve healthcare, rehabilitation and quality of life 

• Why the best innovations start with solving real human needs 

• How sustainability is shaping the next generation of smart textile materials 

• Why collaboration between industry, researchers and society is essential to bring new technologies to life 

In this episode, we meet: 

• Christian Müller, Professor at Chalmers University of Technology, exploring smart textiles that can power sensors, monitor health, and contribute to a more sustainable future. 

• Anja Lund from RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, showcasing textiles that generate electricity and discussing their potential in healthcare and wearable technologies. 

• Nils-Christer Persson from the University of Borås, sharing perspectives on future applications ranging from artificial muscles to accessible technologies that support independence and communication. 

• Anna Berglund and the Smart Textiles Showroom in Borås, demonstrating how smart textiles can help people interact with and experience the world in new ways. 

• Petra Apell and Fredrik Gellerstedt, co-founders of Texray, developing next-generation radiation protection solutions for healthcare professionals.

• Moses Shahrivar, founder of Mo'Cycle, creator of the world's first lower-body airbag jeans for motorcyclists.  

• Jenny Borg from LunaMicro, developing textile technology that actively moves moisture to improve comfort and performance. 

Context: 

Smart textiles are bringing together textile engineering, electronics, data science, healthcare and sustainability to create materials that do far more than traditional fabrics. Around the world, researchers and companies are exploring how textiles can improve safety, health, mobility and energy efficiency, while reducing environmental impact.  

West Sweden is at the forefront of this transformation. Through close collaboration between universities, research institutes, startups and established companies, the region has become a leading hub for textile innovation, helping turn ambitious ideas into technologies with real-world impact.  

This podcast is made by Move to Gothenburg, an initiative run by the West Sweden Chamber of Commerce and co-founded by the European Union region Västra Götaland and several companies, universities and public organizations in the region.