From the Sector

A research team at Fudan University in Shanghai has successfully built complex electronic circuits inside thin, flexible fibers. This breakthrough, referred to as a fiber chip, allows fabrics to process information like a computer while remaining soft enough to be stretched, twisted, and woven into everyday clothing.

The development could transform industries like brain-computer interfaces — which allow the brain to communicate directly with external devices — as well as high-tech textiles and virtual reality.

Typically, computer chips are flat and rigid, built on stiff materials like silicon. And because fibers are curved and have very little surface area, it has been difficult to fit enough electronic parts onto them to make them useful. To solve this, the Fudan University team moved away from just using the surface of the fiber. Instead, they designed a multilayered spiral architecture, essentially building several layers of circuitry inside the fiber to use all the available internal space.

The team's experiments show that a fiber chip only 1 millimeter long can hold 10,000 transistors — the tiny switches that process data in electronics. This gives it the same processing power as a chip used in a heart pacemaker. If the fiber is extended to 1 meter, it could hold millions of transistors, reaching the power levels of a standard desktop computer processor.

The research, which challenges the traditional way computer chips are made, was published in the journal Nature.

For decades, scientists have added basic functions to fibers, such as the ability to store energy or sense touch. However, these smart fabrics usually had to be plugged into bulky, rigid computer chips in order to function. This made the clothing stiff and uncomfortable. The new fiber chip eliminates that need, allowing the fabric to think and act autonomously.

Our fabrication method is highly compatible with the current tools used in the chip industry, said Chen Peining, a researcher at Fudan University's Institute of Fiber Materials and Devices. We have already achieved a way to mass-produce these fiber chips.

The technology has significant implications for healthcare. In the BCI field, current systems use stiff electrodes that must be wired to external computers. The fiber chip could allow for a closed-loop system — where sensing, data processing, and medical stimulation all happen within a single, soft fiber.

Professor Peng Huisheng, a co-author of the study, noted that these fibers are as thin as 50 micrometers — thinner than a human hair — and as flexible as brain tissue. This makes them safer and more effective in the treatment of neurological diseases.

In the world of virtual reality, the technology could lead to smarter tactile gloves. Current VR gloves often use clunky hardware that makes them feel unnatural.

Smart tactile gloves made with fiber chips are indistinguishable from ordinary fabric, Chen said. They can sense and simulate the feel of different objects, which could be used by surgeons to 'feel' the hardness of tissue during a remote robotic surgery.

Avery Dennison, a global leader in materials science and digital identification solutions, announced its exclusive partnership with 1. FSV Mainz 05 (also known as Mainz 05) to enhance fan engagement through heat transfer embellishments, creating customizable and personalized team jerseys.

The partnership marks Avery Dennison’s expansion into German soccer, providing fans the unique opportunity to showcase their creativity and support through bespoke embellished merchandise.

Avery Dennison’s Embelex™ solution portfolio, renowned for its innovative options for personalization in the global sports apparel market, will play a pivotal role in the partnership. Two interactive fanzone touchscreens featuring bonders equipped with an Accurate Alignment Projector System (AAPS) have been installed at the MEWA Arena, home of Mainz 05. Fans can personalize their jerseys in minutes with the name, number or customized message of their choosing, turning matchday shopping into an event as memorable as the game itself.

Sergio Shmilovitch, VP/GM Embelex, Avery Dennison, says: “Fans are demanding more creative and expressive ways to show their loyalty, elevating customization to the top of the league. This partnership is exciting on a number of fronts. By harnessing our global expertise in delivering high-quality branding and customization solutions, Mainz 05 is able to pursue new revenue opportunities while enabling fans to express their dedication and passion in their own unique way.”

Thomas Bohner, head of merchandise, 1. FSV Mainz 05, adds: “Partnering with Avery Dennison as our official name and number partner represents a significant step forward for Mainz 05. We're bringing the same world-class quality used by elite sports organizations globally to our supporters, while pioneering in-venue customization technology in German soccer. This is about giving our fans what they’ve been asking for: instant, professional-quality customization that turns every jersey into something truly their own. It's innovation that strengthens supporter loyalty while creating new opportunities for the club.”

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