---
title: "Sane Membrane project at OST wins FUTUR prize in Switzerland; Industrial-scale production possible"
sdDatePublished: "2026-06-16T16:12:00Z"
source: "https://swisstextiles.ch/en/issues/fluorfreie-textilien-gewinnen-innovationspreis-der-stiftung-futur"
topics:
  - name: "textile and clothing"
    identifier: "medtop:20000329"
  - name: "research and development"
    identifier: "medtop:20000208"
  - name: "environmental pollution"
    identifier: "medtop:20000424"
  - name: "scientific innovation"
    identifier: "medtop:20000736"
  - name: "award and prize"
    identifier: "medtop:20000498"
locations:
  - "St. Gallen"
  - "Switzerland"
  - "See-Gaster"
---


Sane Membrane project at OST wins FUTUR prize in Switzerland; Industrial-scale production possible

Fluorine-free textiles win FUTUR foundation innovation award - Swiss Textiles

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Fluorine-free textiles win FUTUR foundation innovation award

( CONNECT ) A research project between the IWK Institute for Materials Technology and Plastics Processing at OST – Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences and the Zurich-based firm Dimpora AG has earned recognition from the FUTUR foundation , an organization based in Rapperswil-Jona in the Swiss canton of St.Gallen that promotes and supports technology-oriented enterprises. The Sane Membrane project has been awarded the foundation’s main prize, as OST writes in a statement . For this project, OST researchers developed fluorine and solvent-free textile membranes in conjunction with a company specializing in environmentally friendly functional membranes for outdoor textiles.

“Functional membranes are the reason why rain jackets, hiking pants and gloves are waterproof and windproof, while at the same time remaining breathable”, explains Daniel Schwendemann of the IWK at OST in the statement. At present, the market is still dominated by fluorinated materials, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals”. In this regard, the technology developed in the Sane Membrane project is said to offer “comparable functional advantages without harmful substances”. Sane Membrane uses fluorine-free materials processed in a solvent-free production process. According to the statement, the membranes have a microporous structure, a high degree of waterproofing and good breathability. The process can also be scaled to industrial level and supports flexible material systems.

The FUTUR foundation has made it its mission to promote the technology transfer potential at OST. In addition to the Sane Membrane project, the foundation recognized two further projects from OST and its partners during the award ceremony on June 11. The recognition award went to an SME digitalization project, while the special prize was awarded to a modular, solar-powered infrastructure for hospitals and health centers in Africa. ce