In a landmark decision, the Ministry of Textiles has given the green light to a slew of groundbreaking research and development projects, ushering in a new era of innovation and progress in the textile industry. During the 7th Mission Steering Group (MSG) meeting held today, 18 projects with a total investment of Rs. 46.74 crores were approved across a spectrum of strategic areas within the technical textiles sector.
These projects are set to revolutionize key segments of the industry, including Geotech, Protech, Indutech, Sustainable Textiles, Sportech, Smart E-Textiles, and Meditech. Among the 18 approved projects, 14 are classified as high-value projects, showcasing their potential for significant impact. Additionally, there are three prototype grant projects and one ideation grant project, all poised to bring fresh ideas and solutions to the forefront.
The projects, diverse in their application areas, cover the entire landscape of technical textiles. There’s an equal emphasis on Geotech and Geotextiles, with two projects each dedicated to Protech, Indutech, and Sportech. Meanwhile, the realms of Meditech, Smart, and E-textiles will see three projects each, highlighting their growing importance in modern society. Lastly, five projects are centered around Sustainable Textiles, reinforcing the commitment to environmentally friendly practices.
These ambitious initiatives are led 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. Their collective expertise promises to propel India’s textile industry to new heights of excellence.
Union Minister for Textiles, Piyush Goyal, who chaired the 7th MSG meeting, emphasized the crucial role of the industry’s active and robust involvement in fostering indigenous development within the technical textiles sector. He underscored the importance of research and development, not only in reducing imports of technical textiles but also in creating a vibrant ecosystem for innovation.
In his review of the National Technical Textiles Mission, Minister Goyal highlighted several key areas of progress, including the sanctioning of R&D projects, the formation of a startup committee adhering to GREAT guidelines, and upcoming outreach activities such as the 6th Edition of the MOT-FICCI-BIS National Conclave on Standards & Regulations and the Meditex conference scheduled for July and September 2023, respectively.
Furthermore, the Minister took stock of advancements in education, training, and skill development. An impressive 26 applications from both public and private institutes, with a total value of Rs. 151.02 crores, were approved. These initiatives aim to bolster expertise in various facets of technical textiles, securing a brighter future for the industry.
With this momentous decision, India’s textile industry stands poised to become a global leader in technical textiles, underlining the nation’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and self-reliance.
Stay tuned for the transformative developments set to reshape the textile landscape as India strides boldly into the future of technical textiles.