MATUROLIFE · Project

Smart Conductive Textiles That Turn Everyday Clothing Into Wearable Health Monitors

healthPilotedTRL 7

Imagine coating the fibres in a regular shirt or scarf with a thin layer of metal, so the fabric itself can carry electrical signals — like tiny invisible wires woven right into the cloth. That means sensors and electronics can be built directly into clothing instead of strapped onto someone's wrist or hung around their neck. The team developed a metallisation process that plates textiles with metal at the fibre level, then worked with fashion designers to turn those smart fabrics into attractive assistive devices for older adults. They built a pilot production line that can handle fabric pieces up to 100 cm wide, proving this can move beyond the lab.

By the numbers

consortium partners

countries represented

SMEs in the consortium

60%

industry ratio in consortium

100 cm

maximum fabric width on pilot line

TRL7

target technology readiness level

The business problem

What needed solving

Wearable assistive technology for older adults suffers from high abandonment rates because devices look clinical, feel uncomfortable, and stigmatise the wearer. Existing solutions — bulky wrist alarms, neck pendants, clunky GPS trackers — signal vulnerability rather than independence. Companies in the eldercare and wearable tech space need a way to embed the same monitoring capabilities into attractive, everyday clothing and accessories.

The solution

What was built

The consortium built a pilot-scale plating line that metallises textile fibres using nanotechnology and electrochemistry, producing conductive fabric samples between 60 cm and 100 cm wide. They developed assistive technology prototypes co-designed with fashion designers and end users, and validated the industrial scalability of the selective metallisation process to TRL7.

Audience

Who needs this

Wearable health device manufacturers looking to reduce product abandonment ratesTextile companies wanting to enter the smart fabrics and e-textiles marketEldercare and assisted living service providers seeking less stigmatising monitoring solutionsFashion brands exploring tech-integrated clothing linesElectroplating and surface treatment companies seeking new application markets

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Assistive Technology & Eldercare

SME

Target: Companies manufacturing wearable health monitors, fall-detection devices, or GPS trackers for elderly care

If you are a wearable health device maker struggling with user abandonment because your products look clinical and stigmatising — this project developed a selective metallisation process that embeds sensors and connectivity directly into fashionable clothing and accessories. The consortium validated this at pilot scale with fabric pieces up to 100 cm, targeting TRL7. With 12 SMEs and fashion designers in the team, the prototypes were co-designed with older end users to maximise acceptance.

Smart Textiles & Fashion Tech

mid-size

Target: Textile manufacturers or fashion brands looking to add electronic functionality to garments

If you are a textile manufacturer wanting to enter the smart fabrics market but lack the metallisation know-how — this project built a pilot line producing conductive textiles between 60 cm and 100 cm wide using nanotechnology-based fibre encapsulation. The process was validated for industrial scalability with 12 industry partners across 9 countries. You could license this technology to add sensing, heating, or connectivity features to your existing product lines.

Surface Coating & Electrochemistry

any

Target: Plating and coating companies seeking new market applications beyond traditional metal finishing

If you are a surface treatment company seeing commoditisation in traditional metal plating — this project adapted selective metallisation and electrochemistry techniques to coat textile fibres with metal at industrial scale. A dedicated pilot plating line was built and installed, demonstrating the process on fabrics up to 100 cm. This opens an entirely new market segment for your existing electrochemistry expertise, backed by a consortium of 20 partners.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or adopt this metallisation technology?

The project data does not include specific licensing fees or per-unit production costs. With 12 SMEs in the consortium — particularly those in the creative sector — commercial terms would need to be negotiated directly with the IP holders. Contact the coordinator at Coventry University for licensing discussions.

Can this be produced at industrial scale, not just in a lab?

Yes — a dedicated pilot plating line was built and installed that can produce conductive textile samples between 60 cm and 100 cm wide. The project explicitly aimed to validate industrial scalability of the selective metallisation process, ending at TRL7. This is beyond lab-scale but would still need further investment for full mass production.

Who owns the IP and how can I access it?

The consortium of 20 partners across 9 countries shares the intellectual property generated. Coventry University coordinated the project. Based on available project data, specific IP arrangements would need to be discussed with the consortium, particularly with the 12 industry partners and SMEs who were intended to commercialise the results.

Is the technology proven safe and compliant for wearable use on skin?

The project involved end users (older people) in the design process and prototype feedback. However, the project data does not specify regulatory certifications such as CE marking for medical devices or skin-contact testing standards. Any company adopting this would need to complete their own regulatory pathway.

How long would it take to integrate this into my existing product line?

The project ran from 2018 to 2021 and reached TRL7 (system prototype demonstrated in operational environment). Based on available project data, moving from TRL7 to market-ready product would typically require additional engineering, certification, and manufacturing scale-up. The pilot line infrastructure already exists, which shortens the path.

Can the conductive textiles be washed and worn like normal clothing?

The project objective focuses on making assistive technology lighter, more comfortable, and more desirable through design-driven innovation. Based on available project data, durability and washability testing specifics are not detailed in the deliverable descriptions, though these would be essential for any commercial textile product.

Were real end users involved in testing?

Yes. The consortium included societal groups representing end users — specifically older people — who were heavily involved in the design process and gave feedback on assistive technology prototypes. Two dedicated workshops were held to promote the project among interested parties and potential customers.

Consortium

Who built it

The MATUROLIFE consortium is unusually industry-heavy for an EU project: 12 out of 20 partners are from industry, and all 12 qualify as SMEs, giving a 60% industry ratio across 9 countries (BE, DE, ES, FR, IT, PL, SI, TR, UK). This signals strong commercial intent — the project was designed to feed results directly into SME product lines, particularly in the creative and fashion sectors. Coventry University (UK) coordinated, bringing academic depth in materials science, while the 4 research organisations provided additional technical backbone. The geographic spread across Western, Southern, and Eastern Europe suggests the consortium mapped the full value chain from materials R&D through textile manufacturing to end-market fashion and assistive technology. For a business buyer, the large number of SME partners means multiple potential licensing or partnership entry points.

COVENTRY UNIVERSITYCoordinator · UK
EUROCARERS-ASSOCIATION EUROPEENNE TRAVAILLANT AVEC ET POUR LES AIDANTS NON-PROFESSIONNELSparticipant · BE
ASOCIACION PARA LA PROMOCION, INVESTIGACION, DESARROLLO E INNOVACION TECNOLOGICA DE LA INDUSTRIA DEL CALZADO Y CONEXAS DE LA RIOJAparticipant · ES
PLASMACHEM PRODUKTIONS- UND HANDEL GMBHparticipant · DE
INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO DE ARAGONparticipant · ES
AGE PLATFORM EUROPEparticipant · BE
INTERNATIONAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLATING ET MATERIALS SARLparticipant · FR
UNIVERZA V MARIBORUparticipant · SI
PRINTED ELECTRONICS LIMITEDparticipant · UK

How to reach the team

Coventry University (UK) coordinated the 20-partner consortium. Use Google AI Search to find the lead researcher's contact details.

Order a report on this consortium See COVENTRY UNIVERSITY profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the MATUROLIFE team or a detailed technology brief? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the right consortium partner for your use case.

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