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Research

To tackle the world’s grand challenges, we advance the state of the art in textiles.

The Leading Edge

For more than 120 years, the Wilson College of Textiles has stood at the forefront of textiles research and innovation. Today, we’re a global leader in the field, committed to shaping the evolution of textiles and their applications in everyday life.

Textiles research is essential to everything from carbon capture to wearable technology to the next generation of batteries. One constant in all our work is sustainability: improving textile production to use less energy, create fewer harmful byproducts and deliver cost-effective solutions for industry.

As a public land-grant institution, our priority is serving the needs of people. From analyzing global markets to advancing polymer chemistry and nanotechnology, our work is vital not just for traditional textiles companies but for everyone’s quality of life.

$9.1M in Research and Service Annually

We’ve received funding from some 130 companies and nonprofits, as well as federal agencies like the Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation.

A Hub for Public-Private Partnerships

As the most significant textiles research hub in North America, our college has a footprint of more than 200,000 square feet, most of which is devoted to world-class labs and facilities for testing, analysis, fabrication and product development. That’s why we’re the partner of choice for private companies and public agencies alike.

Our researchers, who hail from five continents, are renowned for their expertise, problem-solving and interdisciplinarity. Together with our partners in business, government and the academy, we work on some of the world’s most pressing problems, such as shielding firefighters from extreme heat or securing our clean water supply.

Here on NC State’s award-winning Centennial Campus, we’ve built a bustling hub for research, innovation, extension and service — which includes three leading centers and institutes dedicated to textiles and nonwovens.

Research Resources

Our college provides a world-class research environment for its faculty and staff — including comprehensive support for finding funding opportunities, preparing proposals and managing research awards.

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