Centre Approves Start-Ups, Education Grants & Skill Development In Technical Textiles
The Ministry of Textiles, in the 10th Empowered Programme Committee (EPC) meeting under the National Technical Textiles Mission, approved multiple initiatives to boost innovation, education, and skill development in the sector. The committee sanctioned four start-ups under the ‘Grant for Research & Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT)’ scheme, each receiving a grant of approximately ₹50 lakh. These start-ups are focused on developing innovative solutions in key areas such as Medical Textiles, Industrial Textiles, and Protective Textiles, aiming to enhance domestic capabilities and drive technological advancements in the field.
In a move to strengthen academic engagement in Technical Textiles, the committee approved a grant of approximately ₹6.5 crore for three educational institutes to introduce specialized courses. Among the selected institutes are IIT Indore and NIT Patna, which will incorporate subjects like Geotextiles, Geosynthetics, Protective Textiles, and Sports Textiles into their curriculum. This initiative aims to create a skilled workforce equipped with technical knowledge and practical expertise in emerging textile technologies.
Additionally, to further strengthen the talent pipeline, the committee approved 12 Skill Development Courses in various domains, including Medical Textiles, Protective Textiles, Mobile Textiles, and Agriculture Textiles. These courses, developed by leading Textile Research Associations—SITRA, NITRA, and SASMIRA—are designed to provide targeted training across the entire value chain of Technical Textiles, ensuring industry-specific skill enhancement.
