Interview with Pernilla Walkenström, head of Technology Lab.

What is your role as responsible for STTL? What do you do?

- My role is to gather all the partners and to create the environment that STTL is meant to constitute. I also work to get STTL to collaborate with the other labs within Smart Textiles. If I succeed to do this, synergy effects will occur and the companies will have an even greater benefit.

Tell us about some exciting ongoing projects

- One very interesting project is "melting spinning of electro active fibers". These fibers can be used for a series of applications to reach "smartness". Integrated in a refined textile structure than can be used as sensors in, for example, different garment, bed and furniture products, cars etc. for built-in security systems. The fibers can also generate heat and function as, for example, seat heating in cars. The idea is that the fibers will replace dumb metal threads that are used frequently used today in different textile applications, to reach a certain function based on electric cable ability. Opposite dumb metal threads, some of the fibers show a certain elasticity which makes them able to refine to textile structures with traditional machines.  

What is the goal with STTL?

- Today, the goal with STTL is to gather the technical environment within Smart Textiles and to initiate strategic collaborations with the world around us, not the least with the industry, as well as the other labs.

In what way can Technology Lab in the system Smart Textiles contribute to an increased growth in the region?

-The strong environment that is under construction within STTL will serve Swedish industry with research related innovations. The environment will also be established on the international arena. This will lead to an increased innovation and concurrent strength for Swedish companies and to a better research financing in the region, not the least from the European Union Commission. It will also create new jobs.

Who work within STTL?

- Altogether, 20-25 people or less work within STTL today. STTL's management consists of myself (Swerea IVF/THS), Håkan Torstensson and Nils-Krister Persson (THS), Peter Leisner (SP Technical Institute of Sweden) and Mikael Skrifvars (University of Borås' Engineering School). STTL consist highly of Doctoral students. The main budget is financed as four Doctoral students, of which two is under recruitment right now. Thereafter we have Doctoral students who are in other labs part-time, financed by others. It is difficult to set boundaries between the labs, but it also means that there is a broad competence.  

How do the labs collaborate?

- We have joint projects. A number of company-based R&D projects within Smart Textiles are driven by STTL partners. We represent a broad competence that there is a demand for. There are also collaboration projects with Smart Textile's Design Lab and more to come as increased cooperation.   

How do you look at the future?

- One of the most positive parts is that the VINNOVA founding is long-term. I look forward to build a strong environment within STTL and an increased and closer collaboration with the industry, as well as other parts of Smart Textiles like STDL, company-based R&D projects and Prototype Factory. STTL organized seminar on May 15, whose main goal was to market us and our joint competence to the Swedish industry. Another goal is to create a dialogue with the industry around their need and wishes.

Text: Therese Rosenblad
Photo: Annika Hellström