The Centro de Ciência e Tecnologia Têxtil is a research unit of the School of Engineering of Universidade do Minho, developing research activities in the area of Fibrous Material Engineering and Design.

Founded in 1978, the Centre is financed by the National Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) and recognized as Excellent in its field. The strategic project of 2C2T aims to enhance the competitive position of the European industries by building a knowledge base on science and technology of fibrous materials and processes.
The research activities are developed in tune with industrial needs, involving multidisciplinary teams and are organized in two research groups:

To integrate and define a coherent scope of the research to be carried out, three key areas which are transversal to all the newly identified 5 thematic groups were defined:

i) Sustainability

ii) Digitalization

iii) High-performance applications

The key areas were defined by the Scientific Commission considering the existing competencies of the Unit and contribution to the challenges addressed in the Regional Smart Specialization Priorities together with the Europe Horizon programme. These are common to all the newly identified 5 thematic groups, which replace the previous research groups and thematic lines:

1. High-Performance Engineered Textiles
2. Advanced Textile Processes
3. Sustainable and regenerative fibrous materials
4. Textile Design & Fashion
5. Smart Textiles

The research lines of 2C2T defined as priorities for the next 5 years, which will be developed within the scope of the new structure of the Unit, were identified and divided into three groups:

a. Consolidated areas:

• Medical Textiles
• Textile Design and Design Education
• Sustainable and Natural Fibres

b. Areas under development:

• Modelling and Simulation of Textile Structures
• Fiber-Based Energy Harvesting and Storage Systems

c. Areas to invest in the future:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Additive Manufacturing
• Aerospace Engineering

These areas are perfectly aligned with the strategic program of the University of Minho and its School of Engineering. The human resources to be hired under this funding program will be devoted to the development of these areas.

Projects are the nuclear element of research activity and are allocated to the thematic groups according to the competencies required to achieve the goals. A Principal Investigator nominated by the Unit Coordinator among the Integrated Researchers coordinates each thematic group. Each group can comprise Integrated and Collaborator Researchers. According to their research interests, researchers are members of one or more groups.

The research projects are developed together with the most important worldwide universities, companies and R&D centres, in a national or international basis, guarantying the dissemination of results. Contracts within cooperation protocols with individuals and companies provide shared access to technologies, entries into proprietary research and a rapid response team for national and international initiatives.

The groups explore several research approaches ranging from fundamental to applied research with special emphasis on real-world problems. The participation in international networks of experts, research institutions and European standardisation bodies opens wide chances to be in the leading edge in what concerns innovation opportunities.