We are pleased to announce that Katrine Qvortrup, Associate Professor at DTU Chemistry, has received a Distinguished Innovator Grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation of 5,994,782 DKK for the project “Indican-based light-driven blue denim dyeing for low-impact fashion.”
The project, which includes co-applicant Senior Researcher Carsten Dam-Hansen from DTU Electro, aims to develop a new technology for dyeing denim with light and indican, which is more environmentally friendly than traditional indigo dyeing. Traditional denim dyeing uses a range of harsh chemicals and causes significant environmental pollution, but by using indican and light, the project expects to significantly reduce the environmental impact of denim dyeing.
This could potentially revolutionize the textile industry, as the research team also will focus on making the technology accessible for industrial use and thus economically viable. The grant spans three years and supports a groundbreaking project that combines photochemistry, optical engineering, and process optimization, with the aim of contributing to the achievement of a global leadership position in sustainable denim dyeing.
Find the grant on the Novo Nordisk Foundation website here.