Government approves 18 technical textile R&D projects for Rs 46.74 crore

The 7th meeting of the Mission Steering Group of the National Technical Textiles Mission was presided over by Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday, and 18 R&D projects totaling Rs 46.74 crore were approved, according to an official statement.

The projects that have been approved fall under the categories of Geotech, Protech, Indutech, Sustainable Textiles, Sportech, Smart E-Textiles, and Meditech sectors' major strategic areas.

The growth of technological textiles in India on an indigenous basis, according to the textiles minister, depends on the industry's proactive and vigorous involvement.

Goyal additionally reviewed the development of the National Technical Textiles Mission's various components, including the review of approved R&D products, R&D projects in Mission mode, the formation of a committee for technical textile startups under the GREAT Guidelines, and specific outreach initiatives and events.

In addition to technical textiles products and specialty fibers in India that are import-dependent, Goyal added that the emphasis should be on R&D for technical textiles products that are widely imported.

The minister also reviewed the progress made in the areas of education, training, and skill development. As a result, 26 applications totaling Rs 151.02 crore from 15 public and 11 private institutions were approved for the introduction of papers, the purchase of laboratory infrastructure, and the training of trainers in a variety of technical textile application areas.

"Ministry of Textiles approved 18 R&D projects worth Rs 46.74 crore across key strategic areas of Geotech, Protech, Indutech, Sustainable Textiles, Sportech, Smart E-Textiles, Meditech segments during the 7th MSG meeting," the textiles ministry said in the statement.

The 18 R&D projects include 1 ideation grant project, 3 prototype grant projects, and 14 high-value grant projects.

The projects, which covered several technical textile application areas, were approved. These projects included 1 from Geotech, 2 from Protech, 2 from Indutech, 2 from Sportech, 5 from Sustainable Textiles, 3 from Meditech, 3 from Smart & E-Textiles, and 1 from Geotextiles.

Institutes and research organizations like BTRA, ATIRA, IIT Delhi, IIT Jammu, NIT Jalandhar, IIT Kharagpur, CSIR New Delhi, and IIT Madras were among those in charge of the approved projects.