Centre Injects ₹50 Lakh Each into 7 Startups for Innovation in Technical Textiles

In a groundbreaking move to drive innovation and sustainability, the Centre has approved ₹50 lakh grants for seven promising startups in the technical textiles sector.

Massive Boost for Technical Textiles Startups

On Thursday, the Centre announced a significant boost to the technical textiles industry by approving ₹50 lakh grants for seven startups. This initiative, part of the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), aims to foster innovation and sustainability within the sector, according to a statement by the Ministry of Textiles.

Expanding Innovation Horizons

The Ministry of Textiles has ambitious plans to support 150 startups to drive innovation in technical textiles. This recent approval brings the total number of supported startups to eight, with the ministry previously approving one startup. The initiative was first reported by Mint on June 4, highlighting the ministry’s plan to grant up to ₹50 lakh to each startup engaged in technical textiles without seeking any profit share.

Royalty Cap Relaxation

In a move to further ease the growth of these startups, the textiles ministry has relaxed the royalty cap on this scheme. Traditionally, fund providers claim a percentage of profits as ‘royalty’ for their investment, but this relaxation will enable startups to retain more of their earnings, facilitating faster growth and innovation.

Focus Areas and Approved Projects

The approved proposals emphasize sustainability, composites, high-performance textiles, meditech, and smart textiles, promising substantial advancements in these critical areas. The Empowered Programme Committee (EPC), chaired by Textiles Secretary Rachna Shah, sanctioned these projects.

Transformative Innovations

The grants, distributed under the NTTM’s Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT) scheme, are set to catalyze transformative innovations. Among the approved projects are initiatives focused on developing braided composites for military applications, Radmone integrated IFF antennas, surgical simulation models made of composites for doctor training, and nano-fiber infused textiles for energy generation and sensing.

Strengthening Technical Education

Beyond startup funding, the EPC has approved a ₹6.4 crore grant to IIT Guwahati. This funding will be used to introduce new subjects in technical textiles and enhance the Civil Engineering Department’s laboratory infrastructure, further bolstering India’s position in technical textile research and education.

India’s Growing Technical Textiles Market

Launched in 2020, the NTTM aims to position India as a global leader in technical textiles by promoting research, innovation, and widespread application across various sectors. According to a KPMG report, India’s technical textiles market is the 5th largest globally, valued at $21.95 billion in 2021-22. The market has been growing at 8-10% per annum over the past five years, and the government aims to accelerate this growth to 15-20% over the next five years.

Global Market Projections

The global technical textiles market, estimated at $212 billion in 2022, is projected to reach $274 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.2% during this period. This growth is driven by increasing demand across industries and rapid development of new applications.

Expert Insights

“The synthetics eco-system in India needs a big boost in both textile and apparel. Technical textiles are one part of the synthetics ecosystem, so the government recognizes this gap,” said Rahul Ahluwalia, co-founder of the Foundation for Economic Development. “Startups have a role to play, but the government will also need to focus on big investors that can bring scale to synthetics.”

What are your views for the same?