The department of trade and industry has made a substantial investment in the CSIR's national fibre, textile and clothing centre, which is situated in Summerstrand.

The research body hosted an open day on Friday to showcase this new equipment and demonstrate its capabilities to the industry.

Johan le Roux, acting director of the facility, said the investment in state of the art equipment would benefit the local clothing and textile industry, which has come under global supply pressures.

He explained that the investment by DTI was driven through the enterprise and industry development division's innovation and technology section.

This investment was made as part of government's support for innovation, human resource development and technical incubation.

"We are saying: 'How can we play an active role in industry development and the competitiveness of the industry through science and technology?'

"We are reviewing how we can ensure an emphasis on technology and build on the science base and human capital, but in relevant applications in close partnership with the industry, tertiary institutions and government."

He said the centre could now test the viability of new technology and fibres, particularly the application of natural fibres.

This incubation role would go a long way to helping the industry test its innovations in this type of incubator environment.

Flax, for example, is seen as a key natural resource that can be exploited to further the development of the local industry.

It also holds much promise in terms of job creation at the growing and harvesting stage of the process, with at least one Eastern Cape pilot project studying its commercial viability.

"We aim to look at the complete pipeline," explained Le Roux.

He said the CSIR had been working with the agricultural sector to see how this could be used to incorporate the so-called second economy into that pipeline.

Friday's open day exposed visitors to its new equipment in fibre processing, non-woven fibres, spinning, dyeing, and lab testing.

One of the technologies the CSIR is investigating is nano-fibre production, which aims to create super-fine, yet high-tensile fibres.