SYMCRAFT in Its Anniversary Year:
From Waste to Resource
On June 18, 2026, the Institute for Applied Trade Research celebrated its 10th anniversary as part of the “Trade & Crafts in Dialogue” event at the Christoph Leitl Lounge of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber. Around 150 guests from the skilled trades, industry, government ministries, universities, and partner organizations gathered to look back on ten years of bridging the gap between academia and practice.
For SYMCRAFT, this evening was more than just an anniversary celebration. It showcased the environment in which the project is thriving: a setting where research does not remain abstract but enables concrete solutions for businesses. University Professor Dr. Andreas Schnider summed this up in his speech: “On the one hand, it’s about application. On the other hand […] it’s about research.” It is precisely this interplay that constitutes SYMCRAFT’s strength.
As stated in the commemorative publication, SYMCRAFT “connects the crafts, textile, and other industries to transform industrial waste into new products.” In the context of this Austrian project, this means that textile scraps are not viewed as waste, but rather as a starting point for new ideas, materials, prototypes, and collaborations.
Textile Center Haslach as a Key Partner
The Haslach Textile Center plays a central role. It combines textile tradition, material expertise, craftsmanship, and international networks. This makes Haslach an ideal place to rethink industrial textile waste.
In workshops and networking meetings, materials are examined, processed, and placed in new contexts. This is exactly where what makes SYMCRAFT special becomes clear: a circular economy isn’t just created at a desk, but where people handle materials, share experiences, and develop solutions together.
At the anniversary celebration, DI Heidrun Bichler-Ripfel emphasized the importance of international exchange in EU projects. SYMCRAFT builds on this idea: connected across Europe, rooted in the region, and close to local businesses.