University brings textiles knowledge to €21.8m bid to create Hub for Circularity

Logo for Theseus and European Union over University of Huddersfield building

Two University of Huddersfield academics are bringing their expertise to a €21.8 million EU-funded collaboration to create a first-of-its-kind Hub for Circularity in the capital region of Greece.

Dr Thanos Angelis-Dimakis and Professor Parik Goswami are a key part of the interdisciplinary five-year project, named Theseus. Funded by Horizon Europe, the 46-organisation-strong collaboration aims to develop circular solutions for water, energy and materials such as textiles, plastics, glass, metals and mixed urban waste in the Attica region, which includes the Athens metropolitan area.

The University of Huddersfield duo will be working with six other organisations on the textile stream, looking at ways of upcycling items collected in clothing banks by creating new fibres with enhanced properties – examples are anti-microbial properties to be used in the manufacture of mattresses, or flame-retardant properties capable of being used in manufacturing insulation.

The organisations the University will be working with are mainly Greek and include the Technical University of Crete; the Centre for Research & Technology, Hellas; textile recycler Recycom; insulation manufacturer Fibran Insulating Materials; and mattress firm Como Monoprosopi Ike; as well as Spanish research foundation Fundacion Circe Centro de Investigacion de Recursos y Consumos Energeticos.

Dr Angelis-Dimakis, of the University’s School of Applied Sciences and Professor Goswami, of the University’s School of Arts and Humanities and Director of Research, Innovation, and Knowledge Exchange, will conduct their research out of the University’s renowned Technical Textiles Research Centre.

A project startup meeting was held earlier this week in Athens which both Dr Angelis-Dimakis and Professor Goswami attended.

A group of academics and representatives of organisations involved in the Theseus project Professor Parik Goswami and Dr Thanos Angelis-Dimakis (from left) with other participants in the Theseus project at the startup meeting held in Athens

Dr Angelis-Dimakis commented: “This project is a great opportunity to implement our unique expertise to a real-life case study and contribute to the transformation of my hometown to a green and circular metropolitan area.”

Professor Goswami, who is also Director of the Technical Textiles Research Centre, commented: “This project exemplifies the symbiosis of different disciplines. It is truly inspiring to see how various ecosystems can come together and collaborate to make significant strides towards achieving net-zero goals.

“This project is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary teamwork and the incredible progress that can be made when diverse fields join forces. The fusion of our unique expertise and perspectives is paving the way for innovative solutions that address the pressing challenges of today and tomorrow.”

Industrial-Urban symbiosis (I-US) involves districts cooperating with industries on the management of resources, waste, energy, water, infrastructures, services, transportation and networks. The Theseus project will seek to establish a Hub for Circularity within an area which contains 3.7 million inhabitants.

The overarching aim will be to close loops through I-US to become climate neutral by 2050 by validating new or existing technologies and developing solutions for water, energy and materials based on regional needs.

Named after the mythical figure, Theseus is expected to have a significant impact on the region. Water, energy and material flows were targeted as there is high potential to replicate any solutions uncovered through the project to other EU regions.