International benchmarking a need to promote research and innovation in Indian Technical Textiles

Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal said International Benchmarking, deliberations with the industry and demand assessment are critical to identify high value and high-volume potential products to catalyze research and innovation in Technical Textiles in India. He said this while chairing the 6th Mission Steering Group (MSG) meeting of the National Technical Textiles Mission in New Delhi.

The Ministry of Textiles approved 20 Research and Development projects worth Rs 61.09 crores across key strategic areas of Geotech, Protech, Indutech, Sustainable Textiles, Sportech, Buildtech segments and Specialty Fibres (Carbon Fibre and Ultra High Molecular Weight Poly Ethylene) during the 6th MSG meeting.

Among these 20 Rand D projects, 3 Projects from Geotech, 6 of Protech, 1 Indutech, 1 Sportech, 2 Sustainable Textiles, 2 Buildtech, 2 Carbon Fibres, 2 Specialty/Functional Fibre and 1 Ultra High Molecular Weight Poly Ethylene (UHMWPE) were approved.

It is necessary to identify the areas where high strength lightweight Technical Textiles could be used as an alternative material in automobile, aviation, infrastructure and medical sectors for enhancing efficiency, advancement and sustainability.  A massive outreach exercise is the need of the hour to attract more R and D proposals in the priority areas under NTTM wherein Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Commerce and Industry may collaborate.

Private engineering colleges of good repute will be encouraged to work together with Textile Research Associations (TRAs) or reputed Government institutes for wider awareness, benefits and optimal utilization of NTTM Scheme and foster research & innovation ecosystem across India.

Mr Goyal also reviewed the inter-ministerial exercise conducted under NTTM for Mandation/Adoption of different Technical Textiles items and meetings held with the Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Defense for enhancing usage of Technical Textiles.

Senior Officials from NITI Aayog, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Expenditure, Department of Higher Education, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and members from other Ministries, and eminent members from the industry attended the meeting.