Preface to the International Conference on the Challenges, Opportunities, Innovations, and Applications in Electronic Textiles (E-Textiles 2023) ^†

Abstract

The fifth International Conference on the Challenges, Opportunities, Innovations, and Applications in Electronic Textiles (E-Textiles 2023) was held in Ghent (Belgium) on 14–16 November 2023.

1. Introduction

The fifth edition of this annual conference, organized by the E-Textiles Network, continues to serve as a vital platform for researchers and developers from academia and industry to explore the fascinating world of electronic textiles.

Founded in 2018, the E-Textiles Network has been at the forefront of fostering collaboration and innovation in the field of electronic textiles. Our mission is to provide a space where experts can share their latest findings, discuss challenges, and explore new opportunities in adding electronic functionality to textiles and their related products.

Building on the success of last year’s conference in Nottingham (United Kingdom), which attracted a diverse array of participants from across academia and industry, we were excited to continue this tradition of excellence and innovation. This year’s conference provided a rich tapestry of ideas, bringing together leading minds in the field to share their insights and push the boundaries of what is possible in e-textiles.

The conference was led by our esteemed Conference Chairs, Frederick Bossuyt and Paula Veske-Lepp from the University of Ghent. Their expertise and guidance, along with the dedicated efforts of our Local Organizing Committee, Technical Programme Committee, and International Steering Committee, ensured that this conference was a landmark event in the e-textiles calendar.

2. Conference Days

The event was held in Ghent from the 14th to the 16th of November 2023. The technical programme was organized into eight sessions, covering the following topics:

• Manufacturing and materials;
• Sensing and actuating;
• Reliability, sustainability, and future trends;
• Standards and certification;
• Work wear and protective apparel applications;
• Healthcare and sports applications;
• Energy solutions for e-textiles;
• Design and fashion.

On the first day, there was a dedicated poster pitch session with quick-fire pitches, followed by a full poster and exhibition session. Over the course of the following two days of the conference, we explored a wide range of topics, from the latest technological advancements to innovative applications of e-textiles across various sectors. Participants engaged actively in discussions, forged new collaborations, and contributed to the growing body of knowledge in this exciting field.

For those interested in delving deeper into the history and evolution of our conference, we invite you to visit our Past Conferences page, where you can find the speakers lists, presentations, and proceedings from previous events.

3. E-Textiles 2023 Prizes

E-Textiles 2023 awarded three prizes, which were sponsored by MDPI Micromachines.

3.1. Best Paper Award

Winner: Brett Hannigan (ETH Zürich, Switzerland) “HACS4x: 4-Ply Helical Auxetic Capacitive Sensors for Strain Sensing E-textiles”.

3.2. Best Student Paper Award

Winner: Renad Allagani (King’s College London, UK) “Analysing the Contributing Factors to Activity Recognition with Loose Clothing”.

3.3. Best Student Poster Award

Winner: Nishadi Perera (Nottingham Trent University, UK) “Exploring sustainable approaches in designing textiles embedded with micro-devices”.

4. Committees

4.1. International Steering Committee

• Prof. Steve Beeby (Chair), University of Southampton
• Prof. Kai Yang, University of Southampton
• Dr Russel Torah, University of Southampton
• Dr Theo Hughes-Riley, Nottingham Trent University
• Christian Dalsgaard, Smart Textiles Alliance
• Malte von Krshiwoblozki, Fraunhofer IZM
• Sigrid Rotzler, TU Berlin/Fraunhofer IZM
• Prof. Vladan Koncar, ENSAIT, University of Lille
• Dr Laura Salisbury, Royal College of Art
• Dr Kun Zhang, Donghua University
• Prof. Anne Schwarz-Pfeiffer, Hochschule Niederrhein
• Dr Sara Robertson, Royal College of Art
• Prof. Henry Yi Li, University of Manchester
• Dr Jun Chen, UCLA
• Dr Frederick Bossuyt, University of Ghent
• Dr Paula Veske-Lepp, University of Ghent
• Chris Jorgensen, IPC
• Dr Zachary J Davis, Danish Technological Institute
• Dr Jess Jur, North Carolina State University
• Prof. George Stylios, Herriot-Watt University

4.2. Local Steering Committee

• Dr Frederick Bossuyt, University of Ghent
• Dr Paula Veske-Lepp, University of Ghent
• Prof. Dr. Pieter Bauwens, University of Ghent
• Dr. Celine Vanhaverbeke, University of Ghent
• Katrien Vanneste, University of Ghent

4.3. Technical Programme Committee

• Dr Russel Torah (Chair), University of Southampton
• Prof. Steve Beeby, University of Southampton
• Dr Frederick Bossuyt, IMEC
• Dr Debra Carr, DASA
• Christian Dils, Fraunhofer IZM
• Kamil Garbacz, TU Berlin/Fraunhofer IZM
• Tom Greig, University of Southampton
• Dr Theo Hughes-Riley, Nottingham Trent University
• Dr Rafael Jordan, Fraunhofer IZM
• Dr Abiodun Komolafe, University of Southampton
• Prof. Vladan Koncar, GEMTEX Research Laboratory/ENSAIT
• Malte von Krshiwoblozki, Fraunhofer IZM
• Simon McMaster, Footfalls and Heartbeats (UK) Limited
• Ashleigh Naysmith, University of Huddersfield
• Dr Gopika Rajan, Royal College of Art
• Dr Sara Robertson, Sara + Sarah Smart Textile Design
• Sigrid Rotzler, TU Berlin/Fraunhofer IZM
• Prof. Anne Schwarz-Pfeiffer, Hochschule Niederrhein
• Barbara Shepherd, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Dr Jessica Stanley, Nottingham Trent University
• Jessica Saunders, London College of Fashion
• Dr Jess Jur, North Carolina State University
• Lars Stagun, TU Berlin/Fraunhofer IZM
• Dr Rebecca Stewart, Imperial College London
• Thomas Verhelst, University of Ghent
• Dr Paula Veske-Lepp, University of Ghent
• Dr Mahmoud Wagih, University of Glasgow
• Lukas Werft, Fraunhofer IZM
• Prof. John Wilson, Power Textiles Ltd.
• Prof. Kai Yang, University of Southampton
• Dr Sheng Yong, University of Southampton
• Dr Yi Li, University of Southampton
• Dr Sasikumar Arumugam, University of Southampton
• Dr Kun Zhang, Donghua University

4.4. Technical Support

• Beckie Isaia, University of Southampton
• Martina Creutzfeldt, MCC Events

5. Sponsorship

E-Textiles 2023 would like to thank the following sponsors for supporting this event:

MDPI Micromachines;

MDPI Sensors;

Protex;

Danish Technological Institute;

Smart Textiles & Wearables.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the participants, speakers, and sponsors who make this conference possible. Your contributions are invaluable in advancing the field of e-textiles and shaping its future.