The aim is to generate positive results and to find common solutions to shared problems where a purely national approach would not succeed in the same way. The programme is based upon three priorities focusing on economic development, the environment and improving quality of life.

In the Crysalis project, four European partners have clubbed together to promote and encourage textile innovation, raise the public’s awareness of heritage techniques and collections and improve access to the networks of textile businesses and the development of entrepreneurial skills.

• The City of Calais for its cultural expertise (International City of Lace and Fashion),

• The Town of Renaix for its expertise in developing a textile centre devoted to continuing education for young creators (Campus Tio³),

• The University for the Creative Arts in Rochester for its expertise in digital printing for textiles and fashion training,

• Plymouth College of Arts for its expertise in visual arts and design training.

The project’s shared objectives are:

• Communicate about the economic and cultural potential of textile to young people in the territories involved by promoting local knowledge and know-how,

• Materially and legally protect the heritage of each territory by creating an image bank,

• Foster entrepreneurship in the textile sector by supporting research and encouraging knowledge-sharing,

• Stimulate artists’ creativity by networking sites as sources of inspiration,

• Promote the textile fields of application by jointly programming a cycle of exhibitions and organising attendance by the public to these,

• Make the 3D measuring room and all of its applications an innovative tool for use by the regional textile sector,

• Encourage exchanges of European experiences by organising symposia that involve all of the textile stakeholders.

The resulting action plan will be conducted between 2011 and 2014 and above all include the setup of joint exhibitions on the theme of innovative textiles.