There is not only the pleasure of being the first to create something useful in the effort of those who do research around a world that is only apparently linked to traditions such as that of textiles. It is also about positioning itself in a market that, data in hand, is destined to be worth three billion dollars in the world by 2024. Biella can boast of being at the forefront of this drive for innovation: on Tuesday it was Città Studi hosting the area event of SmartX, the project financed by the European Union that helps to make reality the intuitions that link old yarns and fabrics to microprocessors to transform them into something intelligent, in English, precisely, “smart”.
The Pointex brand welcomed the speakers: after all Paola Fontana, manager of the local textile innovation center and head of research and development of Città Studi, is one of the members of the SmartX board which brings together specialists from all over Europe. On stage, for the whole day, practical examples alternated, all rigorously made in Italy, of what advanced research that mixes frames and high technology can produce. There are those who have thought of the world of children, for example. Bodee is a polypropylene onesie for babies up to 9 months to which a small sensor has been applied: connected to a mobile phone via the app, it provides real-time information on the baby’s breathing, position, even the noises around him. And then it measures the temperature, memorizes the feedings, tells if the baby is calm or agitated. In short, it is an ever present attentive eye which is added to that of the parents. It is the same principle as Close’n’cool, another project financed by SmartX: it is a covering to be placed on the seat used in cars for children to travel. This too has a sensor that measures the temperature, warns dad and mom if the child has sat incorrectly but above all sounds the alarm if the child has been forgotten in the passenger compartment. So far the European project has supported 40 projects, allowing them to start, with an investment of 2.4 million euros. The final appointment of the cycle of regional meetings is scheduled for next week, Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21, in Brussels.