BRÁNA: IOTIQ Becomes Technology Partner for New Platform for a Sustainable Textile Economy
BRÁNA is a new cross-border project launched to advance the textile circular economy in the German-Czech border region through digital solutions. As the technology partner, IOTIQ is part of the five-member project consortium and is responsible for the technical implementation of the central digital platform.
The textile industry is undergoing a transformation. Rising demands regarding sustainability, transparent supply chains, and ESG criteria are coinciding with increasingly complex regulatory requirements from the European Union. At the same time, regional and cross-border collaborations are becoming increasingly important. This is precisely where the new BRÁNA project—a platform for industry networking, sustainability, and ESG transparency within the textile circular economy—comes into play.
BRÁNA is funded under the Interreg Saxony–Czechia 2021–2027 program and receives EU funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The project runs for 30 months and launched in April 2026. The lead partner is the Saxon Textile Research Institute (STFI). In addition to IOTIQ, the consortium includes the Association of the North and East German Textile and Clothing Industry (vti), the Czech Technology Platform for Textiles (ČTPT), and the Czech cluster CLUTEX.
More information on the BRÁNA project at Interreg Saxony–Czechia
A digital gateway to the circular textile economy
In Czech, the name BRÁNA means “gate” or “gateway”—aptly describing the project’s core concept: the platform aims to provide companies with digital access to new opportunities for collaboration and sustainable value chains.
Although Saxony and the neighboring Czech regions are geographically closely linked, gaps remain in the cross-border digital networking of the textile industry. At the same time, both sides possess distinct yet complementary strengths: Saxony contributes research expertise and know-how in sustainable technologies, while the Czech regions boast strong industrial textile production and manufacturing capabilities.
BRÁNA aims to better harness this potential. The project therefore focuses on establishing a digital collaboration platform for sustainable textile cycles. It is designed to help companies find suitable partners, use resources more efficiently, and build transparent supply chains. Standardized ESG criteria and structured data will help make sustainability information comparable and actionable.
What exactly is the platform intended to enable?
BRÁNA is aimed primarily at companies in the textile industry and related sectors. This includes, for example, manufacturers and processors, suppliers, recycling firms, and logistics companies, as well as industry associations and research and educational institutions.
Plans are in place for various features designed to connect these stakeholders. These include a supply chain marketplace, structured company and resource data, search and filtering capabilities, and an intelligent matchmaking system. The latter is intended to bring together suitable German and Czech companies based on their competencies, resources, and interest in collaboration. AI-driven recommendations for potential partnerships are also planned.
The platform also addresses growing demands regarding sustainability and regulation. An integrated compliance module is designed to help SMEs, in particular, meet relevant ESG requirements and other EU regulations. Additionally, a bilingual knowledge and terminology database, along with training modules, will provide access to information on the sustainable and circular textile economy.
IOTIQ as a technology partner
IOTIQ is involved in the project as both a project and technology partner, bearing responsibility for the platform’s technical implementation and acting as the technical architect for the digital BRÁNA system. This role encompasses tasks such as developing the software architecture, programming, and the ongoing technical evolution of the platform. In doing so, IOTIQ leverages its expertise in developing web-based platforms, custom software solutions, and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) products. Insights gained from joint textile-related research projects with the STFI are also being incorporated into BRÁNA.
Technical implementation proceeds in stages: initially, requirements are gathered, and the technical architecture and data structures are designed. This is followed by the implementation of the platform architecture. The third phase involves integrating features such as ESG criteria, supply chain functions, and matchmaking capabilities. Finally, the platform undergoes testing with specific content and pilot applications in preparation for its public launch.
Working together for a more competitive textile region
BRÁNA aims to be more than just a corporate database. The goal is to create a digital network that supports companies from Germany and the Czech Republic in forging new partnerships, strengthening regional value chains, and shaping the transition toward a more sustainable and circular textile industry.
For IOTIQ, the project entails combining technological expertise directly with the needs of an industry facing major transformation. Together with STFI and the other project partners, a digital infrastructure is being developed to integrate innovation, sustainability, and cross-border collaboration. The platform serves as the project’s central technical outcome.
On the start of the project at STFI
BRÁNA thus represents a new IOTIQ project in which technology serves as a link between companies, sustainability requirements, and cross-border cooperation—aiming to open a digital gateway to a sustainable textile industry. The project is funded under the Interreg Saxony–Czechia 2021–2027 program.
