The Fabric Based Research Platform (FIBRE) launched in 2020 with a clear goal: to develop a centre to bridge the gap between industry, academia and start-ups in the domain of textile-based wearable technologies. FIBRE aims to establish new standards, raise awareness, and provide training and education.
Tony Chahine, Founder and CEO of Myant, is at the heart of this vision. His pioneering work in textile computing inspired the creation of FIBRE. Recognized as a trailblazer in the field, Chahine has been instrumental in turning textiles into conduits of data, fusing fabric and digital intelligence to empower continuous, human-centric health monitoring. His innovations paved the way for integrating wearables into clinical and everyday care settings and sparked a movement to reimagine how people connect to their health and wellness.
Chahine envisioned creating an industrial and academic ecosystem that could fuel the creation of an entire new industry in Canada focused on textile computing. His goal was to initiate a model to develop new curriculum and micro credits, deploying this concept through colleges and universities – a place where start-ups, existing industry, researchers from around the world could collaborate, learn, train and develop new technology in textile computing positioning Canada as a global leader in the field.
Starting in 2015, researchers at the University Health Network's KITE Research Institute partnered with Myant to explore the potential of this emerging field. These early collaborations – anchored by Chahine's strategic insight and technological leadership – led to the creation of a multidisciplinary academic ecosystem focused on smart fabrics and personalized health solutions.
"We are grateful for our collaboration with Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (TRI) and KITE" said Tony Chahine.
"Myant was the key contributor to these early conversations and helped to inform the vision and mission for FIBRE, which led to the formation of the academic partnership that exists today," said KITE Director Dr. Milos R. Popovic.
Link to website
For more information about Myant's ongoing innovations in the field of textile computing, please visit:
www.myant.ca
