Secretary for Innovation & Technology Alfred Sit today visited the Research Institute of Textiles & Apparel and met its management team to gain a better understanding of their latest work progress and development plan.

Mr Sit was given an introduction on textile recycling and high-performance textile technologies that further innovations and sustainable development of the textile industry.

Such technologies include various winning entries from the Special Edition 2021 Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days, notably the Cellulose-based PFC-free Functional Surface Finish, which was awarded the gold medal with the jury’s congratulations.

While the Soft Electrochromic Yarns with Low Operating Voltage was also given the gold medal, other winning entries such as the Sleeping Comfort System for Identification of Comfort Zone and the Carbon Dioxide Capturing Cellulosic Materials were awarded the silver medal.

Mr Sit said the Hong Kong textiles and apparel industry is a key player in the global market and expressed that he is glad to see that the institute has been bringing in research and development (R&D) strengths in the industrial chain by developing new materials and advanced production technologies to enhance the industry’s competitiveness.

He pointed out that through R&D and technology transfers, the institute helps the textiles and apparel industry move towards high value-added production and services.

He encouraged the institute to continue to forge closer ties with the industry to promote R&D efforts for commercialisation, adding that with more applications of innovative technologies, the industry can explore room for development and drive reindustrialisation in Hong Kong.