InoCrowd Challenge – Quantifying the Relative Influence of Parameters on Pilling Results in Woven Fabrics

OVERVIEW

The Seeker is looking for an explainable, data-driven solution that (i) quantifies the relative influence of raw-materials, yarn, fabric construction, and wet/mechanical finishing parameters on pilling in woven fashion fabrics, and (ii) provides a scenario simulator to test changes at each stage and estimate the final pilling class.

Target performance: achieve pilling class ≥ 3 under ISO 12945-2: 2000 while preserving appearance and hand-feel.

Awards: Prize of €5,000 (paid in Euros). Shortlisted solutions may be considered for a paid pilot with the Seeker.

Deadline: Submissions due by 6^th of April 2026, 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon).
 

Solutions need to be created on the InoCrowd platform. The InoCrowd challenge page will include the terms on awards, IP rights, and solution handling: https://platform.inocrowd.com.pt/challenges/48978?utm_source=Innocentive

ABOUT THE SEEKER

The Seeker is an integrated textile manufacturer with spinning, weaving, dyeing, and finishing, advanced R&D labs for functional textiles, pilot/demo manufacturing lines, and digital process monitoring systems. The company is committed to innovation, durability and sustainability, and to extending product lifespan while reducing waste.
 

About the Posting Partner:

InoCrowd, the platform managing this Challenge, specializes in generating ideas and solving problems through its interactive open innovation technological platform. With a global network of experts and solvers, InoCrowd accelerates and enhances innovation for companies investing in research and development (R&D).

Eligibility: Open to all individuals and organizations. Additional participation details will appear on the challenge page:

🔗 https://platform.inocrowd.com.pt/challenges/48978?utm_source=Innocentive

THE CHALLENGE

Pilling (surface fuzz and small fibre balls) degrades the visual quality and longevity of woven fashion fabrics. It is influenced by multiple parameters across the textile chain: fibre composition and properties; yarn type and spinning process; fabric construction (mass, warp/weft density, weave); chemical and physical treatments.

Today there is no integrated tool relating these parameters in a simple, structured, explainable way to support decisions during development and production. The Seeker needs a solution that quantifies parameter influence and simulates what-if scenarios per stage, enabling engineers to reduce pilling without compromising appearance or comfort.
 

Solution Requirements

Your solution must:

• Provide an explainable model that correlates raw-materials, yarn, construction, and wet/mechanical-processing with ISO 12945-2 pilling results, reporting relative influence/feature importance for each parameter or group.
• Include a scenario simulator (minimum viable front-end or executable notebook/app) allowing users to vary inputs per process stage and output the predicted pilling class plus key trade-offs (e.g., time/energy/cost, hand-feel).
• Validate the approach using standardized ISO 12945-2:2000 tests and demonstrate paths to class ≥ 3 on representative woven articles.
• Demonstrate usability, scalability to the Seeker’s product diversity (polyester-predominant blends with viscose, wool, elastane; spun yarns from staple fibres), and industrial integration feasibility.

Evaluation (weights): Accuracy & validation 35%; Explainability & relative influence 20%; Usability & integration 30%; Scalability & robustness 10%; Cost & time to implement 10%.

Scope/Material limits: Woven fabrics for fashion developed from polyester-predominant blends (viscose, wool, elastane), using spun yarns from staple fibres.
 

YOUR SUBMISSION

Please include:

1. Technical description of the proposed method and system architecture (data, modelling, explainability method, simulator design).
2. Validation plan & evidence: ISO 12945-2 test approach, expected accuracy and limitations; any prior results or analogues.
3. Usability & integration: demo/wireframes of the simulator; data formats; deployment assumptions.
4. Scalability & robustness: applicability across fabric variants within scope; risks and mitigations.
5. Costs & timeline: effort, prototype/pilot budget, milestones.
6. IP status (patented, patent pending, proprietary, or public-domain) and any dependencies.

Visit the InoCrowd platform to login and create your solution: https://platform.inocrowd.com.pt/challenges/48978?utm_source=Innocentive

Submissions must be received by 6 April 2026 at 23:59 (Portugal Time).