Researchers at North Carolina State University’s College of Textiles have received a software donation valued at more than $1 million from Alignent Software that could help shape the future of the nonwoven textiles industry and enhance the common, everyday products associated with it, according to the university. Textiles researchers hope the donation of Vision Strategist software, along with assistance from Roadmapping Professionals Inc., will help them create interactive technology roadmaps for the nonwovens industry. Industry technology roadmaps are strategic plans that help to align research, development and the application of technology with business goals.

The goal of the roadmapping project is to bring together university and business leaders from the nonwoven textiles industry to assess and identify current and future technology needs and trends for industry growth. The roadmapping process allows organizations to collaborate on ideas for future products and technologies and implement a plan to achieve their objectives.

NC State’s College of Textiles houses the Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center (NCRC), which enables textiles faculty and students to work directly with industry professionals in developing technology roadmaps. Several other companies and organizations, including Corning, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Motorola, NASA and the U.S. military, have utilized Alignent Software’s products to develop technology and product plans.