Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the development trend of smart fiber by textile companies in Daegu/North Gyeongsang Province. This examination includes the development fields of smart fiber, investment size, information sources and the use degree of those, research-related infrastructure, relationship between companies' characteristics and their interests in smart fiber. Research data were collected by a survey. The definition and classification(4 areas and 12 development products) of smart fiber followed ones of Smart Fiber Technology Roadmap by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy. Data were analyzed using SPSS 11.0 program for frequency, means, t-test, and $X^2$-test. Among respondents, the numbers of dying and finish companies and export traders were the highest. It revealed that 19.6% of companies were developing smart fibers. Within 12 development products, vapor permeable/waterproof fiber showed to be most being developed, while medical fiber for human has not been developed and wasn't made an investment plan for developing. It was discovered that the biggest problem of smart fiber development was the lack of experts and the best outcome of smart fiber development was preoccupation of future market. It showed that companies got information from textile fairs but didn't often use information sources. The companies appeared to have a weak intention about research of smart fiber. The more important a company considered functionality of textile products and the more innovative and stabler the company was, the higher interest in smart fiber companies had. It was concluded that textile companies in Daegu/North Gyeongsang Province were aware of the importance of smart fiber development but they were not strongly interested in it and not enthusiastic in taking action on it.
