The research group was chosen by the City of Toronto to be part of its Innovation Showcase at the September 23 event.
FIBRE is ready to show the world what smart textiles can do. The research group, which specializes in fabric-based healthcare innovations, is part of UHN’s KITE Research Institute. It will share its visionary work with industry leaders, innovators and startups at the Future Festival World Summit later this month.
The event, from AI-driven research company Trend Hunter, will take place September 23 to 25 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto. FIBRE will be featured as an innovation partner of the City of Toronto and help represent the tech talent and academic expertise of the city.
FIBRE was selected for its work in wearable healthcare technology and adaptive fashion. “FIBRE is unique because it’s an innovation platform for integrated wearables that has its roots in deeply validated, applied research,” says Dr. Azadeh Yadollahi, Director of FIBRE and a Senior Scientist at KITE.
At the summit, FIBRE will showcase prototypes of various wearable technologies that it has developed in collaboration with global partners, including the SONA College of Technology in India. These include a dry electrode sleeve that uses electricity to improve rehabilitation and a smart T-shirt that tracks vital signs such as heart rate and breathing.
This festival marks the next step in a growing partnership between the City of Toronto and KITE. With the support of the city, FIBRE and KITE’s venture-development program, KITE Creates, have hosted a series of events that bring experts and the public together. These engaging talks and panel discussions have explored themes ranging from inclusive design and commercialization to textiles and the fashion industry.
“We have a strong partnership with the City of Toronto and are grateful for all their support, from our events to this showcase,” says Helen Weston, Research Associate at FIBRE.
The Future Festival World Summit will offer a chance for startups interested in testing, refining, or validating textile-based healthcare to learn more about possible FIBRE collaborations, says Weston. “We’re excited to meet others in this area who share our vision about the transformational potential of integrated wearable technologies that are backed by world-class research.”
Tickets to the event are available at https://www.futurefestival.com/.