In
the framework of its XVI General Assembly, held in Lodz (Poland) on 17th May,
ACTE adopted the Lodz
Declaration which includes a set of requests
needed to create a favourable environment to creativity and innovation in
Europe.
During the Assembly a very positive stock was taken of the
process of compilation of accessions to the Petition
Fashion and Health. The document already counts more than 170
support declarations from public authorities, trade unions, business organisations,
consumer organisations, and technology centres and will be shortly delivered
to senior representatives of the European institutions.
Furthermore, the Assembly approved the requests for membership of the Cities of Stip (Macedonia) and Covilha (Portugal) and of the Consorci per l’Ocupació i la Promoció Econòmica del Vallès Occidental (Spain). FITEX, CITTA (Spain), ADRAVE, ANIT-LAR (Portugal) and INCDTP (Rumania) are new adherent members of ACTE.
On 16th May, the first meeting of the working group
on R+D was held in Lodz (Poland). This group is constituted by ACTE
adherent members and aims at promoting the collaboration between research
centres, universities and other entities of the network in the field of the
preparation, presentation and management of European R+D projects. Entities
from Spain (AITEX, Asintec, Cetemmsa, Fitex, Leitat), Italy
(CNA Federmoda), France (UP Tex) and Rumania
(INCDTP) participated in the meeting.
The working group will meet again on 16th and 17th October on the occasion
of the celebration of the Executive Committee in Terrassa (Spain).
In the framework of the celebration of the next Executive Committee in Terrassa
(Spain), ACTE will organise on 17th October the conference
"The Thread of Innovation". Part of the ACTE Thematic
Year 2008 on Innovation and organised in collaboration with the Vice-presidency
of ACTE Spain, this conference is divided into two parts. In the first part,
different territories will present their experiences with innovative territorial
policies and clusters. The second part will be formed by 4 thematic
workshops: eco-innovation, industrial heritage, knowledge and research
and urban renovation.
On 16th June, the 23 mayors of the Vallès Occidental, the Department
of Employment of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the economic and social
partners of the administrative district signed the document Vallès
Avança which includes 12 action programmes until 2013 to boost
employment and economic promotion. This strategic plan of the Consorci
per l'Ocupació i la Promoció Econòmica del Vallès
Occidental, new ACTE member, has a budget of 8 million euro.
The plan aims at positioning the Vallès Occidental as main centre of
industry and innovation.
The
enterprise Conecta Innova (Mataró), dedicated
to the connection between businesses and university researchers, is the winner
of the Best Business Initiative 2008 awarded by the Diputación
de Barcelona on 3rd July in Terrassa. The event was chaired by the Deputy
for Economic Development and ACTE President, Teo Romero,
and by the mayor of the City of Terrassa and Vice-president of ACTE Spain,
Pere Navarro. Awarded in 6 categories, the awards aim at
recognising the support and consulting services local authorities are providing
to the business activity.
In the wake of Lille 2004 - European Capital of Culture, 2006 saw the first
edition of FUTUROTEXTILES, organised by lille3000. Following this succesful
exhibition in Lille, Designregio Kortrijk and lille3000
are now organising FUTUROTEXTIEL 08, from 9th October
to 7th December 2008 in Courtrai (Belgium). The
exhibition will show exceptional and forward-looking textile applications.
Textile companies from the Kortrijk-Lille region, and from all over Europe,
will display a variety of products to demonstrate the innovative, creative
and surprising approach which the modern textile industry has adopted. The
exhibition also wants to make visitors aware of the importance of research
and development for the sector.
The technology centre Tecnotessile de Prato with its project
Prowater
is the winner in the category "Water management" of
the "Best Life-Environment Projects 2007-2008", awarded by the European
Commission. The project aimed to improve
water reuse systems by demonstrating the technical and economic feasibility
of treating textile waste water using physical-chemical processes and innovative
membrane technologies.
On 12th July, the Provincia di Macerata
will organise in Camerino the conference "Disciplinare di produzione
della tessitura a liccetti". The Vice-president of ACTE Italy,
Daniele Salvi, will participate in this event.
The
Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI) of the
European Economic and Social Committee has presented the brochure "The
future of the textile, clothing and footwear sectors in Europe"
which comprises the recent work of the Commission on these industries. The
document presents the sector as an example of adaptability and a lesson on
the advantages of concerted and co-ordinated action of all social partners.
It includes, amongst others, a summary of a recent CCMI
report and the proceedings of a public hearing
held end of 2007. Besides, the brochure contains an interview with the President
of the ACTE General Assembly, Jerzy Kropwnicki.
On 18th June, the European Commission presented the Fifth progress
report on economic and social cohesion. The first part presents an
analysis of the results of the public consultation launched on the future
of Regional Policy. The second part of the report outlines the factors currently
driving growth in Europe, which is based on knowledge-intensive sectors.
The next ACTE Executive Committee (for members of the Committee) will take place in Terrassa, Spain, on 16th October.
Until 30th November, the Museo del Tessuto di Prato, Italy,
will show the exhibition "Superhuman Performance: The evolution
of textiles for sports".
On 1st July, France took over the rotating
six-month EU presidency. The web site of the French presidency
is available in DE/EN/ES/FR/IT.
