The ministry of textiles, Government of India has cleared 23 strategic research projects in technical textiles worth around ₹60 crore under its flagship programme the ‘National Technical Textiles Mission’. These strategic research projects are in the areas of specialty fibres, sustainable textiles, geotextiles, mobiltech and sports textiles.

Among the 23 projects, 12 are in the area of specialty fibres having application areas in agriculture, smart textiles, healthcare, strategic application and protective gears. The cleared projects include 4 in the area of sustainable textiles, having application area in agriculture and healthcare sectors. The cleared projects include 5 from geotextiles, 1 from mobiltech and 1 from sportech.

Member NITI Aayog (Science & Tech) & Principle Scientific Advisor (PSA) provided inputs pertaining to technical textiles for the meeting along with Line Ministries. Various leading Indian institutes including IITs, government organisations, and eminent industrialists, among others participated in the session which cleared projects strategic for the development of Indian economy and a step in the direction of Atmanirbhar Bharat, especially in the healthcare, industrial and protective, energy storage, agriculture and infrastructure. 

“Industry and academia connect is essential for the growth of research and development in the application areas of technical textiles in India. Building convergence with academicians, scientists and researchers is the need of the hour,” said textiles minister Piyush Goyal while addressing the esteemed group of scientists and technologists.

Goyal emphasised on the importance of contributions of technology and segment experts, scientists and academicians to India’s technical textiles future growth. He highlighted that the technological gap in the country needs to be addressed in the field of technical textiles. Identification of the area of research in technical textiles with industry interaction and promotional activities like conferences, exhibitions, and buyer-seller meets to promote the use of technical textiles in the country and to increase the exports should be the key focus areas.