UofG engineers play leading role in £10M electronic textiles research programme
Published: 24 October 2025
Glasgow engineers are part of a £10M five-year research programme which is aiming to transform textiles into electronics which users can interact with by wearing them.
Engineers from a Scottish university are part of a £10M five-year research programme which is aiming to transform textiles into electronics which users can interact with by wearing them.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s Programme Grant scheme will provide nearly £8M of funding to the project “SUSTAIN”, led by the University of Southampton and University of Glasgow, working with over 20 business partners.
The flagship project is planning to take e-textiles to the next level, with imperceptible and invisible wireless electronics integrated into textiles.
Fabrics can enhance wireless charging range to cover all body-worn devices in comfortable positions
Smart clothing can monitor health parameters, deliver medical treatment, or provide a seamless interface for enhanced user experiences in augmented or virtual reality environments.
Dr Mahmoud Wagih, Reader at the James Watt School of Engineering, is leading the work at the University of Glasgow and the work package dedicated to making e-textiles wireless. He said:
“We will look at how to integrate electronics within fabrics wirelessly and invisibly, so they are imperceptible to the user. At the same time, we need to develop a means of separating the two for a sustainable end-of-life.
“Current examples of e-textiles are powered by batteries, which are bulky and obtrusive. We will research the use of wireless power transfer by picking up energy from radio waves, similar to RFID technology.”
Steve Beeby, Professor of Electronic Systems and Devices at the University of Southampton, the project’s Lead said: “This is the first time researchers in electronics, sustainability, and textiles have joined forces from the beginnings of the design process, so everything we develop will take all needs into account from the early stages. That includes effective electronics, practical textiles, and all-round sustainability.”
First published: 24 October 2025