Abstract: Medical textile materials are a type of functional textile products with special properties and end uses. Medical textile materials are widely used in many fields with production technologies encompassing textile, material, medicine and many other disciplines, making them one of the most technically sophisticated and highest value added industries. This paper analyzed the importance of research and development strategy for the development of medical textile materials and introduced the principles of product positioning based on market classification. Taking into consideration of the characteristics of medical textile materials, a practical research and development process was proposed, with significant implications in guiding the successful development of medical textile materials.

Key words: medical textile material, functional textile, new product development, research and development strategy