The professor: the University of Borås has great potential to influence the textile industry globally

Ever since 2011, when he came from the Netherlands to the Swedish School of Textiles at the University of Borås and became a professor, he has focused on how to improve the properties of textiles and particularly processes in textile production.

The textile industry is a worldwide industry and if you can improve processes and make them resource-efficient, you can make a real difference.

But textiles were not what Vincent was interested in at first. He began his research career in biotechnology and physical chemistry. He was fascinated by interface phenomena, i.e. what happens at the interface between different liquids and gases or between different material phases. He gives an example that has fascinated many of us since childhood:

“Soap bubbles, have you ever wondered why you see different colours on them? That's what the interface phenomenon is about. That's what I've studied,” he said.

Vincent has always been curious about new things and phenomena, and his research has taken him to major universities: the University of Twente in Holland in 1999, Ghent in Belgium in 2007, and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya in Barcelona in 2004. 

Changed research focus

After receiving his doctorate in 1996 from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, and during his years as a postdoc that followed, he changed his research focus to textile technology, where interface phenomena came to be of great importance. Enzymes became the tool for surface modification and adaptation of textile materials.

“I saw that interface turbulence had great relevance in washing processes and switched my research focus to streamlining textile processes based on biotechnology,” he said.

Over the years, his research has become multidisciplinary.

“You come into contact with many different research areas and everyone works in different ways. You will need to learn different disciplines, topics, and processes. This is very challenging and fascinating,” he said.

First turned down Borås

The road to Borås was not clear-cut. Through one of his many networks, Vincent met Kenneth Tingsvik, former head of the then Department of the Swedish School of Textiles, in 1999, who was familiar with his research.

"Kenneth invited me here several times, but I said no. It simply didn't fit with where I was in my career at the time,” said Vincent, who was then in the middle of a postdoctoral position and as a senior lecturer at Twente University in 1999 and 2007. 

In parallel, he was accepted to the prestigious Postdoctoral Fellowships – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Ghent in Belgium. But in the end, he still accepted a visit to the Swedish School of Textiles, something he has not regretted.

“I was very impressed by what great infrastructure there was at the Swedish School of Textiles, from the Bachelor’s level programmes and up, and with its fantastic labs. We go from polymers to finished textiles here. The facilities here are truly comprehensive.”

“I saw what opportunities there were here to really make an impact. The textile industry is a worldwide industry and if you can improve processes and make them resource-efficient, you can make a real difference. It's about reducing the consumption of water, energy, and chemicals in the textile processes,” he explained.

No one took seriously the importance of water

“When I talked about the importance of water at the beginning of my research career, people didn't listen to me, but when I came here and saw what resources there are at the Swedish School of Textiles, I realised the potential we have to influence globally. The problem in society is that people don't see how urgent it is... Or yes, they see, but they don't act. We need to reduce the use of water, and in the textile industry this is entirely possible. Over the years, we have developed the infrastructure at the Swedish School of Textiles and can make a real difference. I have seen all the world's textile universities and can honestly say that nothing is as comprehensive as the one we have here in Borås.”

What motivates Vincent Nierstrasz?

“It's to be able to do something new and the opportunities for that right here are enormous. It is also both fun and challenging to work with our students at all different levels.”

So what is he most proud of in his career? The list is long. Not least that he was accepted to the Postdoctoral Fellowships - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, which boosted his career. He participated in the development of the SMDTex research school, which was funded by the EU, and which provided the University of Borås with many international doctoral students and contributed to the development of doctoral education at the Swedish School of Textiles. Last year, the university was granted funding for the research project Stelec through the EIC Pathfinder programme, which is very unusual in the textile field and a first for the university. Projects funded under the EIC Pathfinder aim to “explore bold ideas for radically new technologies.” 

Recently, Vincent was appointed president of AUTEX, the Association of Universities for Textiles, which helps to expand the network among researchers. And, of course, when he was named Professor of Textile Technology in 2011 at the University of Borås.

“I was then invited to become a member of the venerable Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities, which is a great honour. And I am very proud of my fantastic research team.”

But what does the professor do when he is not working? Well, he cycles, and during the pandemic, he also started running – he has completed seven half marathons and more are in the pipeline.

"I've been cycling since I was three years old and have always cycled to school and university. I always cycle if the distance I'm going to cover is five kilometers or less. It is much faster to get somewhere by cycle than by car during rush hour. In the Netherlands, it is natural to cycle. Imagine 18 million people in an area the size of Skåne and Småland combined if they were to travel by car! Cycling is good for your health, it clears your mind, it’s good for the environment – and your wallet.”

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Vincent Nierstratz' research profile