The Future of Nonwovens Innovation and Sustainability

Don't Just Keep Up with Change...Define What's Next

RISE® is where the future of engineered fabrics is imagined, developed, and brought to life.

Industries are evolving. Expectations are rising. The next breakthrough won’t wait.

At RISE®, innovators, disruptors, and decision-makers come together to explore what’s possible and turn it into reality. This is where bold ideas meet real-world application, and where the next generation of materials and technologies begins to take shape.

Be Where the Future Begins.

Join your peers who are shaping what's next in nonwovens. Make sure you're a part of it.

Registration details coming in the fall of 2026.

What is RISE®?

RISE® is where engineered fabrics move from possibility to commercialization. Focused on emerging technologies, RISE® brings together the people and ideas shaping the future of fibers, engineered fabrics, and nonwovens.

The program highlights scalable, demonstrated solutions designed to solve complex technical challenges and pressing societal needs, from sustainability and circularity to healthcare, energy, and advanced manufacturing.

Across two highly curated days, RISE connects academic, government, institutional, and industry thought leaders who are actively translating research into real-world impact.

What Makes RISE Different?

RISE is not a speculative research conference. Content is intentionally designed around:

Turn-key, scalable technologies
Demonstrated fabrication and processing solutions
Commercial relevance across the engineered fabrics value chain

Attendees leave with actionable insight, new partnerships, and a prescient view of where the industry is headed next.

What can you expect at RISE®?

Step into the innovations shaping tomorrow, including:

PFAS alternatives, fluorine-free performance solutions, binder and chemical systems
Process optimization in needlepunch and airlaid technologies, flame retardant materials
Materials and processes for durable applications, and DoD requirements and perspectives
Antimicrobial technologies and sustainability frameworks

Who Presents at RISE

RISE features perspectives from across the innovation ecosystem, including:

Industrial and commercial organizations
Testing laboratories
National laboratories
Research universities
For-profit research institutes
Industry associations

This cross-sector representation ensures discussions are grounded in both scientific rigor and market reality.

National Labs, Institutes & Associations Represented

Past RISE events have included participation from:

Association of Plastics Recyclers
Battelle
Cotton Incorporated
International Microbial Council
Max Planck Institute
National Association for PET Container Resources
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
NERAC
NIRI – Nonwovens Institute of Research & Innovation (UK)
nova Institut (Germany)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Research Triangle Institute
The Nonwovens Institute, NC State University
U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Green Building Council
USDA-ARS Southern Regional Research Center
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

Universities Represented

RISE consistently attracts leading academic institutions from around the world, including:

Clemson University
Duke University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Iowa State University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Michigan State University
North Carolina State University
North Dakota State University
Pennsylvania State University
Purdue University
Rowan University
Technical University of Liberec
Texas A&M University
Tianjin Polytechnic University
Tulane University
University of Akron
University of British Columbia
University of California (Los Angeles and Davis)
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Illinois – Chicago
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina – Charlotte
University of Pittsburgh
University of Tennessee
University of Utah
Virginia Commonwealth University

RISE is designed for professionals who want more than awareness—they want implementation. Whether you are developing next-generation materials, scaling manufacturing processes, or evaluating emerging technologies for commercial adoption, RISE offers the insight and connections to move forward with confidence.