'We are doing fantastically', says Warmoeskerken. 'Most things I promised in my lecture have come true.' The part-time professor - only Wednesdays he exchanges Unilever for the campus - was appointed at the UT in 1996. The once so important research group Textile Technology had by then already been reduced to almost nothing. 'With the collapse of the textile industry in Enschede it could not remain part of the core programme. That was actually the beginning of the end for the research group.'
The tide turned when the textile industry still present in the Netherlands united themselves in a foundation. Instead of a full-time professor of yesteryear a part-time professor was appointed, paid for by the Foundation Technology of Structured Materials.
Warmoeskerken: 'That was great of course. But the big problem of being paid by industry is continuity. The research paid for by third flow funds is often short term. I am already on my third lecturer (UD), because I cannot offer them a contract for an indefinite period.' The professor did not like this way of working. 'I went to the ministry of Economic Affairs and put the problem to them. They were willing to listen. And, as it turns out, they are making 500,000 guilder available for the continuing existence of the research group. Therefore, not for a specific project. And that is a rarity.'
Despite all Warmoeskerken's efforts textile technology still does not have its full-time professorship back. 'At the UT they do not consider it 'spearhead research', but they may in the future,' he says optimistically. 'The textile industry will develop in the coming year to a modern, knowledge-intensive area of business. Already at this moment we do not lack projects, we work with TNO and are active internationally. What's on offer is enough for two professorships.
