Limerick School of Art & Design (LSAD) at Limerick Institute of Technology has been educating, inspiring and empowering people seeking a creative future for over 170 years. Based on the West coast of Ireland, we are proud to be recognised as one of Europe's leading fine art, design and creative media schools. With over 1,200 students across our campuses, we are a hub of energy and imagination, a supportive creative community and a place of art and enterprise. Providing a Globally linked fashion design programme, we are internationally recognised as one of the top 100 fashion programmes worldwide. LSAD is the lead partner in this European Network Research Project. With our experience in educating fashion,  textiles and digital fabrication we wrote the FUSION project to respond to a growing need to help to develop products and processes that help keep people active as they age. As we are passionate about providing designers and makers access to digital fabrication technologies, we conceived the development of the interactive map to showcase where Fashion and textile designers can avail of these tools.  As the lead partner, LSAD is managing the organisation of all the FUSION activities. ;

The Crafts Council (UK) is the country's foremost authority on contemporary craft in all its forms. Founded in 1971, its role as guardian and champion of national craft practice has evolved to include exploring and enabling new possibilities, making methods and technologies. Its work is made possible by the support of trusts and foundations, individual patrons, and corporate sponsors, and through public funding by Arts Council England. www.craftscouncil.org.uk. Talent development and innovation. The talent development team work with a wide range of experts to provide makers with information and advice to enable their businesses to flourish. Our innovation programme collaborates with cultural, academic and industrial partners to give makers access to new materials and innovative technologies and inspire them to push the boundaries of their practice.;

Design School is a teaching and research unit in the Polytechnic Institute of CÁVADO AND AVE, and is part of the polytechnic education network group. This partner has facilities that include a product development lab, and operates courses that include industrial design and fashion and footwear design. This partner will bring expertise on the integration of textile and technology to fashion product accessories for commercialisation.;

The  Fondazione Santagata for the Economics of Culture was founded on April 13 2018, on  initiative of the Silvia Santagata Research Centre (CSS-EBLA). The Foundation gathers all the know-how and experiences of CSS-EBLA and of the studies activities carried out by Walter Santagata, pioneering scholar of Culture Economics. The Foundation’s main working areas are two: a first one linked to the models for the management of cultural heritage, with a specific reference to the economic dimension of development and to UNESCO related programs, and a second one linked to the production of culture and cultural innovation.  Furthermore, the Foundation’s mission is to enable cooperative networking among culture and other sector operators, to support the internationalization of Piedmontese and Italian economic and cultural operators, in order to generate positive socio-economic impacts. In the frame of the CE project FUSION, Fondazione Santagata has facilitated the participation of two Italian fashion designers to the international masterclasses and residency programme. It has also conducted an extensive investigation on independent innovation and digital fabrication for active ageing in European fashion and textile sectors, which has resulted in the research report YOUTHFUL BEYOND YOUTH Independent innovation and digital fabrication for active ageing in European fashion and textile sectors (tentative title). The publication presents a thorough analysis of the main themes, actors, trends and collaborative methodologies that are driving digital and social innovation in the fashion and textile industry, with a specific focus on the sector's contribution towards active ageing. It is grounded on cross-sector literature and evidence-based research; it showcases the mapping of 132 European fashion and textile makerspaces and on the scenario of independent innovation in 11 countries, and it collects the precious views and visions gathered through in-depth interviews conducted to 14 industry experts. Eventually, it presents possible lines of development of policies in support of the sector, both at a European and at a national level.;

Makerversity provides affordable workspace for start-up making, design, digital, manufacturing and materials innovation businesses - based at Somerset House, London’s working arts centre. Since 2014 Makerversity has been supporting startup businesses with work space and workshop space, enabling them to experiment and prototype products using specialist machinery and tools. Makerversity offers a number of free membership residencies to support individuals who otherwise could not afford access to such specialist tools, providing mentorship and support, as well as access to the community of over 300 Makerversity members working across different sectors. From the largest 3D printer in the UK to growing new materials from algae, Makerversity is the home for innovative startup businesses. Makerversity will host the FUSION residencies in London during Winter 2022. ;

Santa Chiara Lab - University of Siena - is a space for workshops, exhibitions and exchange, aiming to be a bridge between researchers, students and companies to promote sustainable innovation models.;