On a journey of discovery through the world of textile research
At the Open Day on July 14, 2024, the DITF were able to convince the public that applied research on textile products and their raw materials makes a decisive contribution to improving our living conditions. At 29 research stations and with a comprehensive lecture program, the DITF gave the public an insight into their laboratories and pilot plants and provided information on current research topics. Around 2,000 visitors took the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes.

Fibers and textiles are used in many everyday products and also provide valuable services as technical textiles in almost all industrial sectors. Products, new processes, testing techniques and laboratory experiments – 29 stations provided an impressive insight into the topics on which the researchers in Denkendorf are currently working. Textile research reflects our entire everyday life and addresses all relevant future topics such as medicine, mobility, architecture, the environment and energy – this was clearly demonstrated by the wide range of topics covered at the event.

In addition to the research stations, which could be explored in tours, the researchers presented the results of their work to the public in 13 lectures on selected research topics. The focus of all the presentations: The practical relevance to everyday life. After all, research at the DITF is applied and should always deliver results that can be put into practice. The speakers on topics such as bionics, fiber composites and sustainable fiber production proved that this is possible.

As a further highlight, hands-on stations offered the opportunity to carry out experiments and understand scientific correlations. Families tried their hand at chemistry experiments, used plant fleeces for sowing experiments and independently explored textile materials with a stereomicroscope.

The many positive responses and the high number of visitors confirm that the open day was well received by the visitors. A good reason for the DITF to repeat the open day in a few years‘ time. Then with new research topics, because the textile world is constantly evolving.  

What is funded and how? Who can benefit?
The Research and Development Tax Allowance (FZul) has been a nationwide funding instrument since January 1, 2020. R&D projects in the categories of basic research, industrial research or experimental development are eligible. Companies of all sizes and from all sectors can benefit.

With the economic stimulus package to overcome the Corona crisis, the maximum amount of subsidized expenses was doubled to 4 million euros for a limited period until mid-2026, so that a tax advantage of up to 1 million euros per year can be realized at a subsidy rate of 25 percent. The amount of the research allowance depends on the eligible personnel expenses for the specific project. Contract research, e.g. at universities and research institutions, has now also been included. When research contracts are awarded, 15 percent of the contract value is funded.

By offsetting the research allowance against the tax liability, it can also be paid out as a tax refund (tax credit). This also makes the funding attractive for companies that are in a loss-making phase and therefore pay little or no taxes, and for start-ups in the initial phase.

NEW since 28.03.2024
The amendments to the Research Allowances Act (FZulG) came into force on March 28, 2024, whereby the individual substantive provisions themselves contain application dates that must be observed in some cases.

The Research Allowances Act was amended as follows:

> Increase in the maximum assessment basis to EUR 10 million

> Extension of funding to material costs or depreciable movable fixed assets

> Increase in the proportion of eligible costs for contract research from 60 % to 70 %

> Increase in the flat hourly rate for sole traders from EUR 40 to EUR 70

> On request: Increase in the research allowance by 10 percentage points from 25 % to 35 % for small and medium- sized enterprises

> Earlier payment of the research allowance through integration into the tax prepayment procedure

Who benefits and how:

Start-ups
The research allowance can be paid out as a tax credit if a refund claim exists. It does not matter if the company has not yet generated any turnover. An application is also possible in the event of a loss.

Small and medium-sized businesses
As the client is the beneficiary in the case of contract research, this particularly benefits SMEs that cannot maintain their own research and development department. The research allow ance can be applied for before and during the project or even afterwards.

Large companies
Up to now, there has been virtually no funding available for open-technology development projects that need to be implemented quickly. The research tax allowance now closes this gap, as it can be applied for regardless of the size of the company.

Fall-back alternative to project funding
Companies that are not successful in the competitive process for project funding can claim tax incentives for research. The DITF External Funding Department will be happy to provide further information.  

Fewer hospital infections through the use of AGXX particles

In Germany, 400,000 to 600,000 patients contract hospital-acquired infections every year, some of which can be prevented or influenced. Against this background, the use of antimicrobial functionalized clothing by hospital or nursing staff makes a significant contribution to minimizing the spread of bacteria and viruses.

Taking up this topic, the DITF and the company Heraeus are investigating the innovative antimicrobial technology AGXX. The mechanism of action of AGXX is based on a catalytic redox reaction in which moisture and oxygen are converted into reactive oxygen species (ROS), which ultimately kill the microorganisms. The effectiveness of AGXX has already been proven by the developers of AGXX particles against more than 130 different microorganisms, including germs with multiple resistance to antibiotics. As the catalytic AGXX technology is not based on the leaching of metal ions, as is the case with conventional silver technologies, nor on the release of environmentally harmful substances, it is not consumed over time and has a long-lasting effect.

In a joint project, the DITF and Heraeus are working on the integration of AGXX in medical textiles in the form of ad ditives in fibre production and surface functionalization. The tests show that AGXX particles in fibers and textile finishes – depending on parameters such as concentration and polymer type – can have an excellent antimicrobial effect. Extensive developments and laboratory tests are currently being carried out on the effect, resistance and usage properties.

The economic viability aims to establish and expand the use of AGXX particles in everyday, professional and medical applications. In addition to the application envisaged here for the treatment of work clothing for nursing and care staff, the potential for adaptation for other applications is considered to be very high.

 

The composite material “Flexwood” consists of a decorative layer of wood from sustainable forestry in the form of a thin veneer layer and a textile based on cellulose-based natural fibre materials, which is laminated to the back of the wood veneer for stabilization.

Ein Navigationsgürtel hilft Sehbehinderten, ihr Ziel zu erreichen. Die DITF haben ein Kontaktierverfahren entwickelt, womit diese Orientierungshilfen wirtschaftlicher und komfortabler hergestellt werden können. Foto: feelSpace GmbH