KRW1.1 billion (€646.4 million) will be invested in smart textile projects over the next 10 years in South Korea, reports news site JoonAng Daily.
The Ministry of Knowledge Economy announced its backing for future technologies as part of a bid to reinvigorate the conventional textile industry, which is struggling.
Plans for the funding of projects will be completed by mid-2010, according to the government.
Plastic and organic electronics are important enabling technologies for textiles with conductivity and electronic functionality and advances have already been made by the likes of Qio Systems, US, and Spanish research group Cetemmsa.
Documents and links
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JoonAng Daily report
Article on the South Korean governments backing of smart fabrics
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Ministry of Knowledge Economy
The government department backing smart textile research
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Electronic sportswear on track for 2010
Sensing technology could be the talk of the 2012 Olympics following developments at Spanish research centre Cetemmsa
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