It is composed of the three following entities:
- The Administrative Board, consisting of four groups of members, in order to ensure representation of all components of the association.
- The Executive Board, ensuring the preparation and implementation of the administrative decisions, decides on approval of R&D projects, after detailed advice from the Scientific and Technological Committee.
- The Scientific and Technological Committee, consists of independent experts. It meets once a month to evaluate R&D projects before request for approval from the Executive Board. It functions according to internal regulations, which ensure the integrity and confidentiality of its work.
Louis Vovelle has been president of TECHTERA since 2012.
The Techtera 2013-2018 Strategic Roadmap takes into account:
The challenges faced by the textile sector:
- Identify and develop new supply sources (raw materials)
- Help the transfer of know-how and the development of technological hybridisation
- Strengthen innovation in flexible materials
- Develop innovation in the production process (machines) and the environmental performance of the installations
The economic and social challenges to which the textile/flexible materials sector can provide answers:
- The growing energy requirements and the need to optimise their use
- Increasing urbanisation, to associate with a sustainable building policy and stricter safety standards
- Rising living standards in emerging countries
- The protection and comfort of people in their environment
- Medical and social issues linked to aging populations
- The distribution of food resources to all populations
The five strategic areas for action, invested in by leading firms, members of TECHTERA, confirming industrial and technological excellence in the sector, and a priority for the cluster, are:
- The renovation of infrastructures (construction work)
- The safety of people at work (protection)
- Less weight in transport (transport)
- Comfort through personal assistance (health)
- Excellence in luxury goods (clothing, furniture)
The two major key technologies, crossing between the areas of action are:
- Assembly techniques
- “Smart textiles”
The approved projects and their funding are part of this roadmap.