Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) proudly announces its remarkable success at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, winning 2 Gold Medals and 3 Bronze Medals. These accolades highlight HKRITA’s dedication to driving innovation across diverse fields, from textiles and environmental protection to healthcare and education. This achievement demonstrates that HKRITA, as an applied research centre, has developed technologies not only for the textile and apparel industry, but also for the broader community.
“These awards are a testament to the expertise and vision of our researchers, who continually push the boundaries of innovation to serve both industry and society,” said Jake Koh, Chief Executive Officer of HKRITA. “At HKRITA, we take pride in addressing real-world challenges, ensuring that our research yields meaningful and practical applications that benefit society at large. From value addition in the textiles industry to environmentally friendly practices, HKRITA continues to lead the way in shaping a better future through research excellence.”
HKRITA Award-winning Projects
Gold Medal: Selective Separation and Recovery of Nylon from Textile Waste: This eco-friendly solution extracts and recovers nylon from textile waste using green solvent under ambient conditions. The molecular chains of the recovered nylon fibre remain intact, preserving its quality and value, and making it suitable for reuse in garment production while enabling 99.8% solvent reuse. This recycled process significantly minimises environmental and human impact. Furthermore, it can be adapted into a scalable system with high potential for industrial textile applications at a low cost, exemplifying the transition to a circular textile economy.
Gold Medal: Mass Customisation of Breathable Lightweight Hip Protectors for the Elderly via Automatic Inverse Design and 3D Printing: The breathable and lightweight hip protectors are designed for the elderly via 3D-scan-based inverse design and AI automated lattice generation. This approach enables 3D printing of hip protectors with an optimised lightweight structure, minimising both weight and cost while maximising user comfort. These protectors can be easily attached to pants, reducing the risk of hip fractures caused by falls. Their breathable and lightweight design is suitable for the elderly living in hot and humid regions. This project was developed in the partnership of HKRITA and The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Bronze Medal: Scalable Process Technology for PET Passive Cooling Fibre: Passive radiative cooling is achieved using selected metal oxide particles and their particle-void structure, which are integrated into PET fibres. These fibres reflect solar ultraviolet and visible light. This enhances the cooling effect, achieving a 3.7°C temperature reduction under sunlight compared to conventional PET fabrics. This technology can significantly reduce heat stress for individuals working outdoors or participating in intense sports. Additionally, the process is simple to scale up and offers a low-cost solution for mass production.
Bronze Medal: Smart Vest for Improving Behavioural Performance of School-aged Children with Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): This innovative smart vest is a non-invasive real-time feedback system designed to help children with ADHD integrate into classrooms and society. It features two small sensors that monitor movement. When hyperactive movements are detected, the vest uses gentle vibrations to prompt children to self-regulate, enabling them to refocus in class. This allows teachers to concentrate fully on teaching without distractions. The electronic components are housed in the back of the vest and can be easily removed for charging or washing. Two versions of the vest are available: a cotton vest suitable for school uniforms and a breathable fabric vest designed for sportswear. This project was developed in the partnership of HKRITA and The Education University of Hong Kong.
Bronze Medal: Soft Robotic Clothing: Automatic Thermal Adaptation: Soft Robotic Clothing automatically adapts to varying temperatures and activity levels, by increasing insulation in cold conditions and reducing thermal resistance in warm environments, all while maintaining exceptional breathability. This intelligent clothing system, integrated with a user-friendly app, has transformed personal thermal management. It is beneficial for a wide range of users, including everyday individuals and professionals operating in challenging conditions, such as outdoor workers, firefighters and winter athletes. This project was developed in the partnership of HKRITA and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
