The ADDTEX project, formally titled Advancing industrial digital and green innovations in the advanced textile industry through innovation in learning and training, was funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme (ERASMUS+). It ran from July 2022 to June 2025, with a total budget of EUR 1.5 million, fully supported by EU contribution. Coordinated by ASSOCIACIO AGRUPACIO D'EMPRESES INNOVADORES TEXTILS (Spain), the consortium brought together partners from 10 European countries, including higher education institutions, vocational education and training providers, research organisations, and industry clusters. The project aimed to foster digitalisation and green innovation in the advanced textile materials sector through knowledge transfer, co-creation, and innovative learning approaches.

A key part of ADDTEX was the development of innovative training resources and collaborative initiatives to address skills gaps in the advanced textile ecosystem.

Key achievements of the project include:

• Gap analysis report: identifying priority skills and themes for green, digital, and smart innovations, based on research involving 272 companies, 47 VET providers, and 55 higher education institutions across ten European countries.
• Creation of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) featuring nine short courses tailored to technicians, engineers, and managers, including 45 video tutorials, supplementary materials, quizzes, and case studies.
• Launch of the Smart, Digital and Green Skills Academy, providing structured learning paths and certification opportunities for upskilling in the textile industry.
• Successful testing of the MOOC during a bootcamp in Prato (July 2025), engaging students and companies in workshops, company visits, and practical activities.
• Establishment of four regional hubs in Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, and Germany to reinforce collaboration between academia and industry.
• Organisation of interactive activities such as hackathons, virtual international internships, and masterclasses to foster innovation and knowledge exchange.
• Development of a joint communication and exploitation plan to ensure wide dissemination and long-term impact of project results.
   

ADDTEX strengthened the competitiveness and resilience of the European textile ecosystem by addressing skills shortages through targeted education and collaboration. By embedding sustainability and digitalisation into training systems, the project provided SMEs with tools to adopt eco-design principles and advanced digital tools, moving beyond traditional systems. The MOOC and related activities equipped participants with practical skills for green and digital transitions, supporting the modernisation of the ecosystem. Through entrepreneurial mindset development and cluster-based cooperation, ADDTEX aimed to create a supportive environment for innovation that enhances resilience and positions the EU textile ecosystem as a significant player in sustainable and smart manufacturing.

ADDTEX was coordinated by ASSOCIACIO AGRUPACIO D'EMPRESES INNOVADORES TEXTILS and involved partners from Spain, Portugal, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Ireland, Italy, Greece, and Romania, including leading higher education institutions, vocational training providers, research centres, and industry associations. This strong European collaboration enabled extensive knowledge exchange and integration of expertise in advanced textile materials, digitalisation, and sustainability.