The 63rd Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress (GFC), a leading platform for innovation in the fiber and textile industries, took place from September 11-13, 2024, in Dornbirn, Austria. This pivotal event, which has been a cornerstone of the industry for over 60 years, provides a unique forum for industry professionals, innovators, and researchers to exchange ideas and drive forward the future of fibers and textiles.

Dornbirn GFC, founded in 1962, has evolved into a Global Network Generator, offering unparalleled opportunities for knowledge-sharing across the entire value chain. With a focus on fostering an open innovation culture, the congress continues to create value for both the industry and society at large.

Key Highlights for 2024:

Over 125 Lectures delivered across 3 parallel sessions in just 2.5 days.

Plenary Sessions on key topics, including:

- Energy Innovations

- Industry Drivers

- EU Textile Strategy

- Tackling Greenwashing

A strong emphasis on Fiber Innovations, Circular Economy, Recycling, and Sustainability.

New focus areas for 2024 include:

- Energy Solutions

- A Cross-Industry Session with experts from the Paper & Packaging Industry.

The event brought together more than 500 visitors from 31 countries and representatives from over 260 companies, offering a truly global perspective. Notable countries represented include Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Turkey, and the USA, among others. This diverse participation underscores Dornbirn GFC’s global reach and its pivotal role in shaping the future of the fiber industry.

Support for Young Innovators and Businesses

This year, 25 emerging companies were invited to showcase their cutting-edge innovations, offering participants a glimpse into the future of fiber and textile technologies. Additionally, an exhibition space with 22 dynamic exhibitors provided attendees with the opportunity to explore the latest advancements.

On-Demand Access and Expanded Reach

Attendees benefitted from online on-demand access to approved presentations, enabling extended engagement and ensuring that knowledge shared during the event can continue to be accessed post-conference.

Looking Ahead to 2025 and 2026

Building on its success, the 64th Dornbirn GFC is already planned for September 10-12, 2025. “The congress will continue to push the boundaries of innovation and provide a platform for exchange, innovation, and networking to support the industry's transformation toward closing the loop in fibers and greening value chains” says Robert van de Kerkhof, president of the Austrian Fibers Institute.

Key is to foster discussions on key technological, scientific, and industrial challenges, while expanding outreach to engage more end users and brands with expanded focus on areas such as Fiber & technology inovations, biopolymers, natural fibers, and AI-driven solutions. The event will further solidify its position as a hub for cross-industry collaboration.

Matthias W. Gluth, Managing Director of Austrian Fibers Institute, shared the plans for expanding the global reach and influence in the fiber and textile industries. Looking ahead, several key international events will mark significant milestones in 2025 and 2026:

8th International Conference on Industrial and Hazardous Waste Management: Set to take place from May 27-31, 2025, in the city of Chania, Crete, this conference will be co-organized by prestigious institutions, including the Technical University of Crete (GR), Vienna University of Technology (AT), Austrian Fiber Institute (AT), Nanyang Technological University (SG), Tsinghua University of Technology (CN), and the University of Stavanger (NO). The event will address critical topics in waste management, with a particular focus on recovery processes, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Asian GFC: As part of our effort to broaden our influence in key international markets, we are proud to announce the Asian GFC series:

- India, Bombay: In November 2025, the TechTextil India event will be held in partnership with TechTextil India and Messe Frankfurt, bringing together global and regional players in the textile industry.

- Thailand, Bangkok, April 2026: this event will further solidify the GFC’s presence in Asia, offering a platform for cross-industry collaboration and innovation within the region.

Dornbirn GFC continues to provide an essential platform for exchange, networking, and innovation, facilitating the industry's transformation towards sustainability, circularity, and green value chains.

Note: The content of this press release has not been edited by Fibre2Fashion staff.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)