Many textile enterprises face difficulties in finding the best solutions to compete on the global market. They face the challenge of skill development and innovation without having the focused resources and the strategic vision to adapt to the rapid changes of trends and technology in the textile field.A solution to these needs is given by spreading of creative and innovative organizational culture inside of textile enterprises by transferring and implementing methodologies, tools and concepts for improved innovation and training. Research providers in textiles are able to foster textile enterprises to learn how to apply creative thinking in their organizations and how to develop the capacity for innovation and change. The concept of the Knowledge matrix is going to be introduced and used within this project. The Knowledge matrix quantifies the intangible assets of an enterprise from point of view of their nature (vertical dimension) and from point of view of their use (horizontal dimension).Main aim of the project is increasing the capacity for innovation and training by defining and implementing of the Knowledge matrix in textile enterprises.Objectives:1. Development of work-based training envisaging key competences both to employers and employees in the textile field;2. Improving the innovation capacity and training methodology of textile enterprises with the support of research providers;3. Fostering use of ICT in innovation process within textile enterprises;4. Improving the strategic cooperation between research providers and enterprises in textiles at transnational level.The consortium of the project tackling these objectives, reflects a very well-balanced distribution of activities and responsibilities. There are two research institutes (INCDTP = coordinator, Centrocot) and two universities (University Maribor, Technical University Iasi) and one training / technology transfer center (TecMinho), from 4 countries with great importance for the textile industry in Europe: Italy, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia.The innovation strategic partnership on VET has the following main activities:O1) Elaboration of the structure for the Knowledge matrix for innovation(O2) Elaboration of the Benchmarking matrix to be adapted from the Knowledge matrix and performing the performance benchmarking process with 50 textile enterprises. (O3) Guide with new solutions for textile enterprises: the benchmarking report will be analyzed (SWOT and gap analysis) and solutions will be provided by the project's partners for improving the innovation and training capacity of the enterprises. Several research results and new training methods will be provided by the project's partners.(O4) E-learning tool and work - based training: The e-learning tool will provide the following main functionalities: Built-in questionnaires (Questionnaire activity) related Knowledge matrix for textile enterprises; Export and processing the data from questionnaires; E-learning modules in 5 European languages (EN, IT, PT, RO, SI) with text, graphics and videos (cca. 80 pages) in interactive format.The E-learning tool (O4) will support the (E1-E5) Multiplier events - workshops and the (C1-C5) Blended mobility courses:(E1-E5) Workshop (multiplier event) for the dissemination of the project's objectives, of the Knowledge matrix / benchmarking study and Guide's results, and for attracting trainees for the blended courses.Target group: decision-making enterprise staff (managers, HR specialists, professionals)(C1-C5) Blended mobility courses: organized for training meant for young traineesTarget group: young trainees(young employees, textile students and scholars, unemployed workforce)The methodology intended to be applied in the project envisages the guidance of the project accordingly to several plans:1. The Work plan2. The Quality management plan3. The Sustainability plan4. The Dissemination planMain Results:- 95 young people trained, 100 persons from enterprises advised - 15-25 new solutions for enterprises.- 150 stakeholder user accounts - 1 cumulative Knowledge matrixImpact:The concept of the Knowledge matrix, which quantifies the intangible assets of an enterprise, brings added-value in its innovation and training capacity. The project partners support the enterprises by means of their latest research results and training methods. They are able to identify gaps in the innovation capacity of enterprises based on the Benchmarking study and to enrich it with new solutions. Hence, main impact indicators on the enlarged target group are:- acquiring improved training methods;- better knowledge of innovation mechanisms in textile enterprises;- improving the implementation of the innovation;The main sustainable output of TEXMatrix, the e-learning tool, will be hosted on the INCDTP server even after project’s end and will further support the textile world-of-work in improving innovation and training.
The textile industry in Europe faces big challenges for qualified personnel and requires implementation of new research results. In order to keep their competitive advantage, textile enterprises have to focus on innovation. The gap between modern requirements at the workplace and the current skills of young apprentices has to be bridged by up-to-date educational materials. The Knowledge Matrix for Innovation (KMI) is a management instrument for quantifying the intangible assets of an enterprise. It is used to describe the assets of an enterprise. The project’s main aim is to increase the capacity of innovation and training in textile enterprises, by defining and implementing the KMI. Objectives: 1. Development of work-based training envisaging key competences both to employers and employees in the textile field; 2. Improving the innovation capacity and training methodology of textile enterprises with the support of research providers; 3. Fostering use of ICT in innovation process within textile enterprises; 4. Improving the strategic cooperation between research providers and enterprises in textiles at transnational level. The consortium of the project tackling these objectives, reflects a very well-balanced distribution of activities and responsibilities. There are two research institutes (INCDTP = coordinator, Centrocot) and two universities (University Maribor, Technical University Iasi) and one training / technology transfer center (TecMinho), from 4 countries with important contribution to the textile industry in Europe: Italy, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia. The project’s consortium undertook the following main activities: 1. The KMI was defined, processed and adapted for textile enterprises. The structure of the KMI consists of Elements, Criteria and Factors on one dimension and of Conditions, Resources, Activities and Results on the second dimension. Thus, the project partners carefully prepared and synthesized the 52 Factors of the KMI. 2. The KMI was transformed into a Benchmarking questionnaire (BMQ) and the partners conducted the benchmarking activity by receiving questionnaires from 64 enterprises from the 4 partner countries both in online and written format. 3. A Benchmarking report on European / partnership level as well as 4 Benchmarking reports on national level were prepared with the comparative situation to the European average. Moreover, dedicated reports for each participating enterprise were issued with the comparative situation to the European and National average (this outcome was not initially foreseen). 4. A SWOT analysis was conducted to the Benchmarking report on European level and based on the identified Opportunities and they provided a number of 35 project’s solutions. The link between Opportunities and Solutions was performed by a cluster table. Moreover, an entire Guide with new solutions was prepared in all partner’s languages (IT, PT, RO and SI) and English, including the modules: Elements specific to innovation Instruments for supporting and promoting innovation Innovation based on scientific results (project solutions) Legislative framework for protecting innovation 5. The e-learning tool with all these OER was implemented with the URL address www.advan2tex.eu/portal . The Moodle platform includes special customized e-learning courses in all partner’s languages and 658 user accounts. 6. Five blended courses and five multiplier events (one by each partner) were organized and unfolded for ensuring a proper impact to the envisaged target group, based on the performed outcomes. The results attained were: • 199 stakeholders in textiles prepared within multiplier events (instead of 100 initially foreseen); • 137 young trainees in textiles prepared within blended courses (instead of 95 initially foreseen); • 64 textile enterprises involved within the Benchmarking activity (instead of 50 initially foreseen); • One new Erasmus+ / strategic partnership project proposal won in the 2018 competition. The impact of the project was achieved on five levels: 1. Upon participants from the textile industry (stakeholders): a number of 19 textile enterprises interested in the project solutions and improved links research-industry; 2. Upon young trainees: 36 trainees counseled for their career path and 16 trainees intending to follow a job in textiles or related fields; 3. Upon participating organizations: improved project management skills and cooperation relationships; 4. Upon the dissemination target group: 23 papers in scientific magazines and conference proceedings, 29 PPT presentations at events, 20 poster presentations at fairs, 24 posts in newsletters and press releases, 26 links to social media networks and 44 other presentations at info days, symposia, cluster meetings etc. 5. Upon project’s website visitors (599 different users with 730 sessions) and e-learning tool visitors (620 different users with 1922 sessions).