Union Minister of Textiles, Commerce and Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Piyush Goyal said that international benchmarking, deliberations with the industry and demand assessment are critical to identify high value & high-volume potential products to catalyze research and innovation in Technical Textiles in India. The Union Minister said this while chairing the 6th Mission Steering Group (MSG) meeting of the National Technical Textiles Mission in New Delhi today.

Ministry of Textiles approved 20 R&D projects worth INR 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 R&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.

While addressing the meeting, Shri Piyush Goyal said that 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.

The Minister noted that massive outreach exercise is the need of the hour to attract more R&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.

Shri Goyal also said that private engineering colleges of good repute to 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.

The Minister reviewed the progress of Component-II of NTTM - Promotion & Market Development, including events conducted so far such as 10th Edition of Technotex 2023 in Mumbai with FICCI held between 22nd – 24th Feb 2023, GEOTEX: National Conference on Geo-Textiles – PM, GATI Shakti Scheme in Delhi with CII on 24th March 2023, Technical Textiles: Exploring Growth Opportunities in Hometech and Clothtech under Chintan Shivir - ‘Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam’ at Rajkot on 21st April 2023 and  National Conclave on Sportech: The Future of Sport Textiles and Accessories Industry in India in Delhi with ITTA on 2nd June 2023.

Shri Piyush 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 Defence for enhancing usage of Technical Textiles. QCOs for 31 Technical Textiles - 19 Geotextiles & 12 Protective Textiles issued on 10th April 2023.

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.

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