Ministry of Textiles Approves Startup Guidelines for Technical Textiles

In a significant stride towards fostering innovation and growth in the realm of technical textiles, the Ministry of Textiles has given the green light to the "Startup Guidelines for Technical Textiles - Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles" or simply "GREAT." The move is set to catalyze research and entrepreneurship by offering substantial grants to aspiring innovators in the technical textiles domain.

Empowering Innovators through GREAT Guidelines

The newly approved guidelines, known as GREAT, signify the Ministry's commitment to propelling advancements in technical textiles. With a focus on nurturing innovation, the guidelines extend grants up to Rs. 50 lakh (US$ 60,533) for a duration of 18 months.

These grants are intended to facilitate the transformation of prototypes into tangible innovations and products, ultimately fostering commercialization. One of the core objectives of the initiative is to create a robust startup ecosystem within the technical textiles sector.

Diverse Applications of Technical Textiles

Under the GREAT Guidelines, paramount emphasis is placed on diverse application areas within the domain of technical textiles. These encompass a wide spectrum of fields, including agrotextiles, building textiles, geotextiles, medical textiles, protective textiles, sports textiles, and more. Notably, the guidelines also underscore the significance of integrating cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, 3D/4D printing, and rapid prototyping, as well as the development of indigenous textiles.

Fostering Growth through Incentives and Investment

To amplify the impact of the initiative, the Ministry has incorporated incentives for incubators. These incubators stand to receive an additional 10% of the grant amount as incentives. Moreover, to ensure a sense of authenticity and commitment, incubatees are required to invest a minimum of 10% of the funding in the project, distributed over two equal instalments.

Advancing Education and Upgradation

Recognizing the importance of education and skill development, the Ministry has taken steps to elevate technical textile courses across institutions. A total of 26 institutes have been granted approval to enhance their laboratory facilities and train instructors in technical textile applications. Additionally, 15 applications from public institutes and 11 applications from private institutes, amounting to a total of Rs. 151.02 crore (US$ 18.3 million), have been endorsed for upgradation and implementation.

Pioneering Institutions and Broader Criteria

Prestigious institutions like IIT Delhi, NIT Jalandhar, NIFT Mumbai, and others are set to benefit from the program, strengthening technical textile education. Looking forward, the Ministry is planning to reopen the Guidelines for Authorising Academic Institutes in Technical Textiles' Education, aiming to introduce new courses and papers aligned with the evolving needs of the industry.

Quality Control and Future Roadmap

On the quality control front, the Ministry has already issued Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for 31 technical textile goods, including protective textiles and geotextiles. An additional 28 categories, such as building textiles and industrial textiles, are being considered for QCOs, reinforcing the commitment to regulating and maintaining quality standards.

With these groundbreaking measures, the Ministry of Textiles is steering India's technical textiles sector towards an era of innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable growth.

Some relevant and latest facts for the above news:

• The Startup Guidelines for Technical Textiles was approved by the Ministry of Textiles on August 29, 2023.

• The program will provide grants of up to Rs. 50 lakh (US$ 60,533) for up to 18 months to help individuals and companies develop and commercialise technical textiles.

• The program is open to startups that have been incorporated in India for less than five years and that are working in the field of technical textiles.

• The program will prioritize startups that are working in the following areas:

  • Agrotextiles

  • Building textiles

  • Geotextiles

  • Homes textiles

  • Medical textiles

  • Mobile textiles

  • Packaging textiles

  • Protective textiles

  • Sports textiles

  • Smart textiles

  • Development of indigenous textiles

• The program is expected to boost the growth of the technical textiles sector in India and create new jobs.