What SmartTex-Netzwerk does

SmartTex-Netzwerk is a certified innovation cluster for smart textiles headquartered in Weimar, Germany, and managed by richter+partner GmbH since its founding in 2010. The network brings together 68 member organizations — including Fraunhofer and Leibniz institutes, RWTH Aachen, EMPA, and textile manufacturers such as warmX, UVEX SAFETY Textiles, ITP GmbH, and Interactive Wear AG — to broker interdisciplinary R&D collaboration across sensorics, actuators, smart fibers, and active/passive cooling textiles applied in medical, mobility, PPE, and wearables use cases. Its core offering is network coordination and project management services rather than product sales: it organizes free workshops, symposia, and seminars (primarily at the Technologie- und Innovationspark Jena), publishes downloadable lecture materials, provides accredited innovation consulting (RKW Thüringen, go-inno/Euronorm), and initiates/manages R&D projects including SmartTex-assist, MagnetoTex, SensoFormTex, PlasmaWundTex, ChromoTex, LaserTex, TexSiSolar, and PieTex. The network is funded through membership, public project grants, and consulting fees, with no commercial product revenue and no disclosed financials. It is the only smart-textile-focused cluster in Thuringia and operates as an active node within several European initiatives, notably CONTEXT (COST Action) where its network manager leads the PPE working group, as well as SmartINNO (ERASMUS+), IN4SUSTAIN, T-CREPE, DigiPop, and INSUM.

Name

SmartTex-Netzwerk

Legal name

richter+partner GmbH Weimar

Website

https://smarttex-netzwerk.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SmartTex-Netzwerk is a Thuringia-based, ESCA-certified innovation cluster coordinating 68 member organizations across Europe to broker smart-textile R&D collaboration, events, and consulting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Textile Cluster Network Services

akta.pro primary industry

Open-Source & Developer Communities (BPAMABAM)

Keywords

• Smart textiles network
• Textile cluster management
• Research and development coordination
• Innovation consulting
• Interdisciplinary collaboration

Headquarters

HQ city

Weimar

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Network Membership and Coordination Services: SmartTex-Netzwerk functions as a certified network organization coordinated by richter+partner GmbH. The network provides advisory services for R&D project applications, marketing, innovation consulting, and product development. Services include accredited innovation consulting via RKW Thuringia and go-inno innovation vouchers via Euronorm. Revenue derives from network coordination, project management, and consulting services rather than product sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SmartTex-Netzwerk is a certified cluster/network organization that brings together manufacturers, developers, and researchers in the field of smart textiles. It coordinates R&D projects, organizes free workshops, symposia, and seminars for knowledge transfer, and provides advisory and innovation consulting services to member companies and institutes. The network is headquartered in Weimar and managed by richter+partner GmbH, with membership spanning 68 organizations across Germany and Europe.

Product overview

SmartTex-Netzwerk is a network organization (not a product company) that brings together manufacturers, developers, and researchers to enable rapid knowledge transfer in smart textiles. The network offers coordination services including R&D project initiation and management, organization of workshops/symposia/seminars, and consulting services for innovation and marketing. The organization facilitates collaboration across industries including medical technology, mechanical engineering, energy generation, and clothing sectors, focusing on sensor technologies, actuators, smart fibers, and smart textiles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SmartTex-Netzwerk Network Coordination Services Core network coordination services that facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration between textile manufacturers, developers, and researchers, enabling rapid knowledge transfer in the smart textiles field.
• Network Management and Project Coordination Organizing workshops, seminars, symposia, and network meetings; providing advice on R&D project applications and monitoring; facilitating cooperation and knowledge exchange with research partners.
• Smart Textiles R&D Project Initiation and Management Initiating, managing, and supervising R&D projects for scientific and economic networking across industries, including projects such as SmartTex-assist, MagnetoTex, SensoFormTex, PlasmaWundTex, ChromoTex, LaserTex, TexSiSolar, and PieTex.
• Events and Knowledge Transfer Services Organizing workshops, symposia, seminars, and business trips for scientists, developers, and entrepreneurs to foster interdisciplinary cooperation and exchange expertise in smart textiles. Events are free of charge.

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CONTEXT (COST Action Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023SmartTex-Netzwerk is an active member of the European CONTEXT network (COST Action), which bundles initiatives across Europe to facilitate market acceptance of advanced textile materials. Network Manager Dr. Daniela Zavec leads the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) working group. The network participates in all 6 working groups: Healthcare/Medicine, Automotive and Aerospace, PPE, Construction and Living, Sport and Wearables, and Dissemination & Communication.
• CONTEXT Working GroupscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCONTEXT is organized into 6 working groups covering: Healthcare/Medicine, Automotive and Aerospace, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Construction and Living, Sport and Wearables, and Dissemination & Communication. Dr. Daniela Zavec serves as working group leader for PPE.
• SmartINNO (ERASMUS+ Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmartINNO is an ERASMUS+ project aimed at facilitating knowledge transfer from smart textiles experts in research institutions and companies to young newcomers. The project identifies industry needs, updates training curricula, and develops online training materials. Partners include ETP Belgium and multiple European institutions.
• IN4SUSTAIN (Erasmus+ Project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ project developing digital and analog learning formats, OER content, and gamified methods for sustainability training in the textile and clothing sector. Implemented across Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Portugal, and Spain.
• Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum IlmenauminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe network collaborates with the Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Ilmenau on the 'AI Spring' (KI-Frühling) event series — 13 free online events for SMEs on artificial intelligence topics. SmartTex-Netzwerk promotes these events to its members.
• DigiPop (Cross-Border Czech Cooperation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border cooperation project with Czech Republic focused on strengthening women's pelvic floor health using smart textiles with integrated sensors for monitoring exercises and muscle contractions.
• T-CREPE (EU Project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU research project successfully completed by the network, focused on advanced textile materials.
• richter+partner GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe network events and projects are organized and coordinated by richter+partner GmbH Weimar, which provides network and project management services. richter+partner is an accredited innovation and marketing consultant at RKW Thuringia and an accredited company for go-inno innovation vouchers at Euronorm.
• SmartX Online PlatformminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmartTex-Netzwerk contributes to the SmartX online platform for smart textile training and education, updating and testing existing content and developing training workshops as part of the SmartINNO project.
• RKW ThüringenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe network coordination office has accredited consultants for innovation and marketing at RKW Thüringen (Rationalisation and Innovation Centre for German Business), providing advisory services to member companies.
• EuronormminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe network coordination office is an accredited company for go-inno innovation vouchers with Euronorm, facilitating access to innovation funding for member SMEs.
• INSUM Project (automotive thüringen e. V.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative project developing a smart center console for vehicle interiors. Involves TITV Greiz, ITP GmbH, and other partners, demonstrating regional cooperation for innovation and new value creation in the mobility sector.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• Techtera: French innovation cluster for smart and technical textiles headquartered in Lyon. Techtera coordinates R&D projects, brings together textile/industry/research members, and runs events and calls for projects — directly comparable to SmartTex-Netzwerk's business model in a neighboring European market.
• Centexbel: Belgian scientific and technical research center for the textile industry, coordinating R&D projects and serving as a hub between textile companies and research partners. Directly comparable to SmartTex-Netzwerk as a national-level textile R&D coordinator in a neighboring country.
• AITEX (Asociación de Investigación de la Industria Textil): Spanish textile research institute coordinating R&D projects for the Spanish textile industry and participating in EU consortia. Comparable to SmartTex-Netzwerk for its national R&D-coordination role and active engagement with EU funding frameworks.
• Deutsche Institute für Textil- und Faserforschung Denkendorf (DITF): Germany's largest textile research institute, running R&D across the textile value chain and partnering with industry on funded projects. Comparable to SmartTex-Netzwerk because it organizes consortia and projects in smart/technical textiles, but as a research performer rather than a pure coordinator.
• Institut Français du Textile et de l'Habillement (IFTH): French technical textile institute supporting industry through testing, R&D, and innovation projects. Comparable to SmartTex-Netzwerk in its national-coordinator role for textile innovation and its mix of industry services and project management.
• Industrieverband Technische Textilien (IVGT): German industry association for technical textiles that represents manufacturers and connects them with research, policy, and markets. Comparable to SmartTex-Netzwerk for its German textile-industry convening role, though it is a lobbying/trade body rather than an R&D cluster.
• Thüringisches Institut für Textil- und Kunststoff-Forschung (TITK): Thuringian institute for textile and plastics research based in Rudolstadt. TITK is also a member of SmartTex-Netzwerk, but functions as a comparable textile R&D organization that independently runs projects (including smart-textile topics), making it a benchmark peer.
• European Technology Platform for Textiles and Clothing (Textile ETP): EU-level stakeholder platform that defines the European textile/clothing research agenda and represents the sector to the European Commission. Comparable to SmartTex-Netzwerk as a pan-European coordination body, but operating at a higher political level without Thuringian regional anchoring.
• Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut (STFI): Saxon textile research institute in Chemnitz that coordinates industry-focused R&D projects, runs events, and works with German/EU partners. Comparable to SmartTex-Netzwerk in role and German regional positioning, particularly relevant for technical-textiles and nonwoven applications.

Regional players

• Clust-ER Innovazione nei Materiali: Italian regional cluster under the Emilia-Romagna framework covering advanced materials, including technical textiles. Comparable to SmartTex-Netzwerk as a cluster organization in the European textile innovation landscape, but focused on a different national/regional ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smarttex-netzwerk

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SmartTex-Netzwerk