HKRITA Builds Strong Partnership with Industry and Academic Institution

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel is committed to conducting applied research and maintaining close exchanges with industries and research partners in order to foster the innovation and competitiveness of the textiles industry. Last month, HKRITA signed three memoranda of understanding (MoU) with Seiko Epson Corporation of Japan, the Fiber Innovation Incubator (Fii) of Japan, and a local social enterprise Comfort Me respectively to support research development and commercialisation.

Forge Stronger Technology Ties with the Fiber Innovation Incubator of Shinshu University

HKRITA and the Fii signed two MoU as early as 2013 and 2018. During the period, research on evaluation systems, materials science and recycling technologies were conducted, including assisting in the trial of the Sleeping Thermal Comfort Assessment System for Textile Products in Japan, and providing advice on the project design and assisting on the verification of the technological concept of the Green Machine. The Shinshu University has a long history and is the only university in Japan with a Faculty of Fibres. Last month, Ms Teresa Yang, Chairman of HKRITA, visited the university and signed the third MoU with Fii. It is hoped that the two organisations would continue the collaboration on technology exchange and research to develop more innovative solutions for the benefits of the textiles industry.

Ms Teresa Yang, Chairman of HKRITA and Prof Hideaki Morikawa, Dean of Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University take a photo after signing the MoU

Dr Kanji Kajiwara, Research Fellow of the Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, speaks in HKRITA’s Innovation & Technology Symposium 2023 to introduce the development of the Green Machine

A Cross Industrial Collaboration with Seiko Epson

HKRITA also signed another MoU with Seiko Epson, one of our valuable international partners that is not part of the textiles and clothing industries. Epson aims to become carbon negative and eliminate the use of non-renewable underground resources by 2050 in order to facilitate sustainable development of the society. R&D collaborations in material recycling will be carried out by professionals of both parties who have strong industry and research backgrounds in the areas of textiles, mechanics, electronics and digital technologies.

Mr Edwin Keh (right), Chief Executive Officer of HKRITA and Mr Satoru Hosono, Deputy General Administrative Manager, Technology Development Division of Seiko Epson, pose for a photo after signing the MoU

Serve the Local Community with Comfort Me

HKRITA has been cooperating closely with the industry. Last month, it signed a MoU with Comfort Me, a local social enterprise manufacturing lingerie. With an aim of providing comfortable underwear for breast cancer survivors, Comfort Me sponsored our project “Developing A Customised Comfort Bra to Aid Recovery from Mastectomy” and referred recovering patients together with other patient support groups to take part in the project trial. It is expected that this MoU will further the collaboration and promotion of the project commercialisation so that more breast cancer survivors can benefit from it.

Ms Angie Lin (left) and Ms Lonna Kwan (middle), the two Founders of Comfort Me, take a photo with Ms Katherine Chan, Director, Business Development of HKRITA after signing the MoU