THE fast-evolving technical textiles sector is being highlighted at an important Bolton conference.

Lord Sainsbury, the Government's Science and Innovation minister, was at the Reebok yesterday to open a two-day "World Congress" on high-performance textiles.

Academics, business people and scientists from 15 countries heard Lord Sainsbury declare: "The North-west is recognised as a world leader in technical textiles and the region has demonstrated very effectively how co-operation between business, academic institutions and government can work for the benefit of the industry as a whole."

The conference, which has 150 participants, has been organised by Bolton Institute's Faculty of Technogy Textiles in association with the new North West Textiles Network.

Traditional clothing and fabric activity has moved in many cases to low-wage economies overseas.

But British scientists and manufacturers have revived the sector over the last 10 years by developing a range of products for industrial use in sectors such as the automobile industry, civil engineering, medical support and protective clothing.

Bolton Institute is a leading player in this field and hosts NWTexNet, an organisation which links the industry, trade associations, the unions, higher educational establishments, government agencies and local authorities.

Lord Sainsbury told delegates that a recent cluster analysis undertaken by David Rigby Associates for the North West Development Agency revealed the region to be the centre of the UK's strength in technical textiles.

It showed that more than 600 companies worked in this area.

They include conference sponsors Lantor UK from St Helens Road, Bolton, and SSL International from Oldham.

And Lord Sainsbury highlighted Andrews Textile Industries in Bury -- a company which started making laundry blankets in the last century and is now a world leader in the production of filtration fabrics.

Lord Sainsbury said. "This company has also received DTI support to develop, in partnership with Bolton Institute, composite impact-resistant materials based on their non-woven technology in order to seek new markets in the automotive industries.

"The North-west's present position is that of a world leader," he went on.

"It is the intention of the Government, working through its various agencies and regional and sectoral business support organisations, that this remains the case."

He said Bolton Institute had received £380,000 from the Government's Innovation Budget to support four research and development projects -- one completed and three current -- in which at least 15 companies were or are involved.

Lord Sainsbury summed up: "In the Knowledge Economy the technical and performance textile sector is an excellent example of an industry which by innovation has shown how one can be successful and grow in spite of fierce competition from low-wage companies.

"In this country we have an excellent science and technology base located in places such as the Bolton Institute.

"We must make certain that we take full advantage of this national asset and I welcome this conference and the contribution it will make to taking forward this expanding and promising sector of the UK economy."