Textiles Ministry Approves Rs 46.74 Crores for 18 R&D Projects in Technical Textiles

The Ministry of Textiles, under the leadership of Union Minister Piyush Goyal, has given the green light to 18 research and development (R&D) projects valued at Rs 46.74 crores, signifying a significant stride in the field of Technical Textiles in India. This decision was made during the 7th Meeting of the Mission Steering Group (MSG) of the National Technical Textiles Mission, held today in New Delhi.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized the importance of collaboration between industry and institutions in propelling the indigenous development of technical textiles in India. The approval of these projects marks a crucial milestone in the country's journey towards self-reliance in this sector.

The approved R&D projects are strategically spread across various segments of technical textiles, including Geotech, Protech, Indutech, Sustainable Textiles, Sportech, Smart E-Textiles, and Meditech. Among these projects, 14 are high-value ventures, 3 are Prototype Grant projects, and 1 is an Ideation Grant project.

The breakdown of the approved projects is as follows:

• Geotech: 1 project

• Protech: 2 projects

• Indutech: 2 projects

• Sportech: 2 projects

• Sustainable Textiles: 5 projects

• Meditech: 3 projects

• Smart & E Textiles: 3 projects

• Geotextiles: 1 project

These projects will be spearheaded by esteemed institutes and research bodies such as BTRA, ATIRA, IIT Delhi, IIT Jammu, NIT Jalandhar, IIT Kharagpur, CSIR New Delhi, and IIT Madras, among others. During the meeting, Union Minister Piyush Goyal conducted a comprehensive review of various components of the National Technical Textiles Mission, including the progress of sanctioned R&D products, projects operating under Mission mode, the establishment of a committee for Startups in Technical Textiles based on GREAT Guidelines, and upcoming outreach activities and events.

Notably, the 6th Edition of the MOT-FICCI-BIS National Conclave on Standards & Regulations and the Meditex conference in July and September 2023 were highlighted as significant events on the horizon. Minister Goyal underlined the need for a strong focus on R&D for globally sought-after technical textile items, along with reducing the dependency on imported technical textiles and specialty fibers.

The meeting also delved into the progress made in the realm of education, training, and skill development. A total of 26 applications from 15 public and 11 private institutes, amounting to INR 151.02 crores, were approved. These funds will be used for introducing new coursework, procuring laboratory infrastructure, and training educators in various facets of technical textiles.

The meeting witnessed the participation of senior officials from NITI Aayog, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Expenditure, Department of Higher Education, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, as well as distinguished members from the industry. This development promises to drive economic growth and position India as a global leader in the technical textiles industry.