HKRITA’s Submissions Garner Full Recognition at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) received 2 Gold Medals and 3 Bronze Medals for all of its entries at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, held from 9 to 13 April 2025.

Driving Textile Innovation and Sustainability

At the exhibition, HKRITA showcased various projects focusing on environmental protection and textile innovation. The Gold Medal-winning project, “Selective Separation and Recovery of Nylon from Textile Waste,” employs a low-cost, green solvent to selectively separate nylon from textile waste, making it reusable in garment production without compromising fibre quality and value. This has significant potential for industrial applications. In textile innovation, the “Scalable Process Technology for PET Passive Cooling Fibre,” which won a Bronze Medal, integrates selected metal oxide particles and their particle-void structure into polyester fibres. This enables the fibres to reflect solar UV and visible light, reducing heat stress for those working outdoors or engaging in intense sports. Another Bronze Medal-winning project, the “Soft Robotic Clothing: Automatic Thermal Adaptation,” automatically adjusts to environmental temperatures and human activity, enhancing warmth in cold conditions and reducing thermal resistance in warm environments while maintaining excellent breathability.

The step-by-step recovery process of nylon from textile waste

Fabric made with the PET fibres with particle-void structure shows notable cooling effects when compared to controlled fabrics

The Soft Robotic Clothing is developed in collaboration with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

 

Innovative Projects for Social Welfare

HKRITA also presented two projects addressing social welfare in this exhibition. The Gold Medal-winning project, named “Mass Customisation of Breathable Lightweight Hip Protectors for the Elderly via Automatic Inverse Design and 3D Printing,” is developed using 3D-scan-based inverse design and automated lattice structures. Produced via 3D printing, these lightweight protectors reduce weight and cost while enhancing user comfort. The hip protector can be easily attached to pants to lower the risk of hip fractures caused by falls. The Bronze Medal-winning “Smart Vest for Improving Behavioural Performance of School-aged Children with ADHD” utilises a non-invasive real-time feedback system to help ADHD children self-regulate and refocus in class, allowing teachers to teach without distractions.

These awards highlight HKRITA’s role as an applied research centre, where its developed technologies benefit not only the textile and apparel industry but also the broader community. Mr Jake Koh, CEO of HKRITA, stated that, “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. 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.”

This year’s International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva attracted 1,043 inventions from 42 countries and regions, serving as a platform for showcasing innovative technologies and a valuable opportunity for HKRITA to exchange with the global research community.

Various lattice structures are developed for making the hip protectors, an innovation in collaboration with The Chinese University of Hong Kong

The Smart Vest in collaboration with The Education University of Hong Kong is developed for school-aged children with ADHD

Mr Jake Koh (second left, back row), CEO of HKRITA, poses with the HKRITA’s delegation

Dr Erika Ngan, Project Manager of HKRITA, introduces the “Selective Separation and Recovery of Nylon from Textile Waste” project to the public

Mr Haoming Mo, PhD Candidate from the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, introduces the innovation breakthrough of “Mass Customisation of Breathable Lightweight Hip Protectors for the Elderly via Automatic Inverse Design and 3D Printing” to the judges