65 Years of the Fiber Congress in Dornbirn
• Dornbirn GFC: Connect, Create & Catalyse
• Awards Winners:
o The winning team of the 1st Dornbirn GFC Thinkathon
o Lenzing Young Scientist Awards 2026
o Paul Schlack Prize 2026
o Innovation Award 2026
• Dornbirn GFC Asia 2026
65 Years of the Fiber Congress in Dornbirn
From 1962 to 2026, the Congress provided a platform where scientific breakthroughs, entrepreneurial ideas and pioneering technologies can gain visibility and momentum.
Dornbirn GFC is the meeting point for the international fiber industry: Founded in 1962, the Fiber Congress has built a strong bridge between science and industry. Renamed the Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress in 2018, the event has become increasingly international. In 2026, about 250 companies were represented among over 400 participants from almost 30 countries to gather in Dornbirn to
exchange knowledge, present innovations, and discuss the future of the fiber industry.
“For the first time in our 65-year history, Dornbirn GFC has a woman as Managing Director. Beatrice combines a deep understanding of science, technology and industry with something equally important: a belief in connecting people, because innovation happens when the right people find each other. I am very proud that she is leading the next chapter of Dornbirn GFC,” says Robert van de Kerkhof, President, Austrian Fibres Institute.
Dornbirn GFC: Connect, Create & Catalyse.
Three words that describe the Dornbirn GFC, and its role in bringing the global fiber community together to shape what comes next.
• Connect : generations, countries and disciplines
For 65 years, Dornbirn has been the place where students, researchers, experts, professors and senior executives connect to solve industry-wide challenges.
• Create : ideas, partnerships and solutions
The Dornbirn GFC creates the conditions for ideas, partnerships, and solutions by bringing together a diverse international community. Industry partners from the global fiber sector meet with universities, start-ups, business angels, brands, associations and other key players. This unique mix of perspectives creates an open environment for dialogue and collaboration : connecting established expertise with fresh ideas and new approaches.
• Catalyse : turning innovation into impact
Since its foundation, the Dornbirn GFC has recognised and accelerated innovation in the fiber industry. The Dornbirn GFC is not only a place to present innovation; it is a place where ideas turn into concepts, R&D projects, scale-up and commercialization. Innovation connects with the people, partners and networks needed to move it forward.
Celebrating Outstanding People & Ideas
Innovation is driven by people. The Dornbirn GFC therefore places outstanding researchers, innovators and ideas at the center of its programme. Over the years, the Congress has created and supported initiatives that celebrate achievements and encourage the next generation of innovation, including the Paul Schlack Award, the Dornbirn GFC Thinkathon, Innovation Award and the Lenzing Young Scientist Award.
Award Winners
The winning team of the 1st Dornbirn GFC Thinkathon
The winning team of the first Dornbirn GFC Thinkathon brought together students from TU Wien, HTL Dornbirn and industry. Their innovative project impressed the jury, consisting of André Wissenberg (Barmag), Lynn Wan (lululemon), and Simon Riepler (Beaulieu Fibres, Asota).
The jury was so impressed by the team’s idea that the participating companies offered their support for the project’s further development. If the team succeeds in developing a viable business plan, the companies have committed to providing financial support for its implementation.
The winning group proposed the following: ECPC (Extended Consumer and Producer Cooperation) links each garment to a digital coin that follows the product throughout its value chain. When the garment is correctly disposed of, the coin’s value is returned to the consumer. Material losses caused by recycling limitations are compensated through an EPR fee, which is adaptively linked to the efficiency of the circular process. This creates incentives for producers to design recyclable garments and for consumers to dispose of used textiles correctly, helping to close the material loop.
“The Thinkathon brought students and industry experts together, catalysing innovative ideas to shape a stronger, more sustainable fibre industry. Following this first success, I plan to make it an integral part of the Dornbirn GFC“ says Béatrice Moureaux, Managing Director, Dornbirn GFC. “Welcoming the younger generation was a highlight: their energy during the Thinkathon was contagious, and I am confident they will successfully shape what comes next and scale innovation faster than ever.”
Lenzing Young Scientist Awards 2026:
“Production of Cellulose Separators Using the IoncellTM Process for Electrochemical Applications”, by Julia Nikolaus (TU Graz) impresses the jury with her Master’s thesis: From cellulose to functional separators: Porous regenerated cellulose membranes were produced via the IoncellTM process and CaCO3 templating. Their promising performance in supercapacitors highlights their potential for sustainable energy storage.
Nicole Nygren-Sundell (Aalto University) was awarded for her work, with the following key message: Development of dope-dyeing of cellulosic fibres for sustainable textiles saves resources and improves colour fastness. The produced fibres have excellent mechanical properties and are recyclable using the same production methods.
Paul Schlack Prize 2026
The Paul Schlack Prize 2026 has been awarded to Momo Naeimirad from Senbis B.V. Polymer Innovations / University of Amsterdam for his work: “PolyBioDeg: Structure-properties of melt-spun bioplastic fibres in correlation with their biodegradation behavior and mechanical performance.” The Paul Schlack Prize celebrates promising research and innovation in the field of man-made fibres, and CIRFS and Dornbirn GFC are delighted to recognise Dr Naeimirad’s work this year.
Innovation Award 2026
Nine participants showcased their companies’ innovations during the 5-minute Innovation Pitch, presenting in front of an expert jury composed of Dimitri Deheyn (Scripps Institution of Oceanography), Lynn Wan (lululemon), and Elke Hortmeyer (Bremen Cotton Exchange), with additional ratings from the audience.
The jury was particularly impressed by Polyester Infinity, a fully circular polyester technology enabling CO2-switchable dyeing and decoloration, presented by the winner, Richard S. Blackburn from the University of Leeds.
Dornbirn GFC Asia 2026: Looking ahead to China
Following the 65th Dornbirn GFC, the Congress will take its next international step on 5 November 2026 with the first Dornbirn GFC Asia in Keqiao, Shaoxing, China, in cooperation with the China Textile Information Center (CTIC).
Under the theme “Fiber Materials for the Future: Innovation, Circularity & Global Value Chains”, the event will bring the Dornbirn GFC community together with Chinese industry, research and innovators, opening new connections and opportunities for collaboration between Europe and China.
Further details, including the programme and speakers, will be announced in a dedicated Dornbirn GFC Asia press release in October.
“Dornbirn GFC has always been more than a congress, it is a community, and for many of us, a family. I am deeply proud to lead it into its next chapter. Connect, Create and Catalyse mean bringing people together, giving ideas room to grow and helping turn them into impact. Taking Dornbirn GFC to China is our first concrete step in shaping that future together” says Béatrice Moureaux, Managing Director, Dornbirn GFC.
