TEX-DAN Study trip to Salzburg Oct 22-23 2025

A two-day study trip to Salzburg (October 22–23) was organized by the University of Applied Science GmbH - FH Salzburg
as part of the TEX-DAN project activities. The trip brought together all TEX-DAN project partners and their stakeholders with the goal of fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange.

The program included stakeholders' matchmaking event aimed at building new partnerships, visits to two local handcraft workshops to explore traditional handmade textile production, and participation in two interactive events promoting Interreg collaboration and circularity within the textile and food industries in the region: Full Circle: From Lessons Learned to Future Possibilities - Circular Economy and Interreg" – held on Oct 22 at the FH Salzburg, and Circular Solutions in Textile & Food: Bridging Sectors, Borders and Strategies, event held following day at the city campus of the University of Salzburg.

TEX-DAN stakeholders matchmaking event

The study trip began with the TEX-DAN internal project meeting, held alongside stakeholder matchmaking sessions. The matchmaking event brought together representatives and partners from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia, who presented their organizations and explored new opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange.

The sessions provided a valuable platform for networking, encouraging participants to discuss common challenges, share innovative practices, and identify potential areas for joint initiatives within the textile and design sectors.

TEX-DAN at the Full Circle: From Lessons Learned to Future Possibilities - Circular Economy and Interreg

The event was held in the afternoon at the University of Applied Science GmbH FH Salzburg. It was an interactive session and an opportunity to exchange experience, methodologies and tools from Interreg projects:

FOODIS (Interreg Italy-Austria);

Open Circular and Co-Effect (Interreg Italy-France Maritime)

CEFoodCyle and BAUHALPS (Interreg Alpine Space)

TEX-DAN (Interreg Danube Region)

Ce4Re (Interreg Central Baltic)

Registration desk for the Full Circle event

Local Businesses visits

A Glimpse into Tradition: The Kirchtag Umbrella Workshop

As part of our study trip, on the second day, October 23, we visited two local textile SMEs located along the main alley in the city center. These visits offered us valuable insights into the traditional crafts of textile, wood, and leather.

The first stop was our visit to the Kirchtag Umbrella Workshop, situated on the fourth floor of a beautifully preserved historic building. This family-owned business, founded in 1903, began as a small shop selling sun and rain umbrellas. Over a century later, it continues to uphold its legacy of excellence, attracting customers who gladly pay 300 to 400 Euros for a meticulously handcrafted umbrella.

Each umbrella is a true work of art, combining high-quality wood—ranging from ebony and oak to cherry wood and other fine varieties—with durable, elegant textiles. Customers have the opportunity to personalize their umbrellas, selecting materials and designs that best reflect their style and taste.

The Kirchtag workshop stands as a testament to Austrian craftsmanship and tradition, where patience, precision, and passion are woven into every stitch and carved into every handle.

A pile of umbrella sticks made of different woods at Kirchtag workshop

Leather Handcraft Workshop – Christina Roth

Our next stop was the leather handcraft workshop of Christina Roth, a specialist in producing top-quality leather bags, belts, and wallets. In addition to her own exclusive line, Ms. Roth and her skilled team also offer expert repair services for luxury vintage handbags — including pieces from Chanel and Louis Vuitton — which can be worth up to ten thousand euros each.

Their hallmark lies in the use of premium, natural leathers sourced from salmon, deer, cow, crocodile, and other materials, all free from synthetic additives. Every stitch is hand-sewn, ensuring exceptional durability and quality. This meticulous craftsmanship demands not only precision and patience but also great artistic skill.

Each piece is custom-made, with Ms. Roth collaborating closely with clients to design bags that perfectly match their individual tastes and needs.

TEX-DAN at the Circular Solutions in Textile & Food: Bridging Sectors, Borders and Strategies

The Circular Solutions in Textile & Food: Bridging Sectors, Borders and Strategies

was held at the city campus of the University of Salzburg, and it explored cross-sector EU collaboration and circular solutions in Textiles and Food industries in Danube and Alpine regions, bringing together SMEs, policy makers, NGOs, students, and project partners, and highlighted sector-specific best practices, barriers, and enablers of circularity.

The event was organized by the Alpine region with emphasis on three topics: EU strategy for the Alpine region; Platform based solutions that are enabling circular economy and designing circular textiles, showing best practices from pilot to products. Bringing together SMEs, policy makers, NGOs, students, and project partners, the event highlighted sector-specific best practices, barriers, and enablers of circularity. It was also, an excellent opportunity to mingle and to learn more about circularity and its importance.

The TEX-DAN activities with emphasis on pilot actions were presented by the project manager BendóZoltán and Dr. Ricard Parrilla Guix, a senior lecturer at the Dept. Business and Tourism at the FH Salzburg, presented TEX-DAN project and its pilot actions.

Apart from TEX-DAN there were presented several other projects such as CEFoodCycle, that develops a platform that tackles food waste, and introduce innovative circular processes in the food sector FOODIES .