The Ministry of Textiles has launched “Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT)” guidelines under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) with an objective to support start-up ecosystem of Technical Textiles in India by assisting young innovators, scientists/technologists, and startup ventures in the field of Technical Textiles to translate their ideas into commercial technologies/products. Under the GREAT scheme, a maximum support of Rs. 50 lakh is provided to each approved proposal. A total of 24 Start-ups have been approved under GREAT scheme of NTTM at a total cost of Rs 12.16 crore, of which Rs 10.79 crore is Government of India share. A state-wise detail of these Start-ups is given below.

The Startups are selected under the Scheme in accordance with the eligibility criteria prescribed in Para-6 of the GREAT guidelines, details of which are given at Annexure-II. Further, the 24 approved start-ups covers a wide spectrum of technology domains, including advanced functional textiles such as temperature-responsive and self-sanitizing fabrics, smart textiles featuring graphene-based materials, energy-harvesting fabrics, shape-memory wearables for healthcare, high-performance composites for automotive, construction, and defence applications. They also encompass sustainable, bio-based innovations such as hemp–bioplastic composites, biodegradable tire yarns, and algae-derived leather, as well as medical and healthcare solutions including surgical simulators and antimicrobial textile technologies.

A Review and Monitoring Committee has been constituted under the Scheme to assess and oversee the progress of the approved start-ups. Further, public events, workshops, seminars and outreach activities are organized under the Scheme nationwide, to facilitate industry engagement for scaling up the potential start-up projects as well as disseminate information about the scheme.

State wise details of Start-up projects under GREAT scheme of NTTM

Extracts of Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT) guidelines

Para 6: Eligibility Criteria:

For individual applicant:

1. 1. 1. The individual applicant should be an Indian citizen of minimum age of 21 years on the day of application (defined in section 11).
      2. The primary applicant should be the Project Leader (as per Section 7) and shall be responsible for all communication and decision making related to the grant.
      3. The applicant must be incubated in an Incubator. At the time of application, the applicant is expected to have identified an Incubator. MoU with the Incubator is required for the final approval. Alternatively, a Letter of Support/recommendation from the Incubator is required at the time of application submission if MoU has not been signed.
      4. If the applicant is under formal employment/associated (or a student/researcher) with an academic or research organization, then the applicant must produce a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from competent authority of the organization clearly indicating that the applicant:
         • Is allowed to apply for the GREAT grant and there is no conflict with the current duties/obligations of the applicant and the scheme of GREAT grant.
         • Accept funding support (if successful) as an individual.
         • Manage the funds in individual capacity under Central Nodal Account (CNA) mechanism of Government of India.
         • Can create an Enterprise.
      5. Alternatively, the applicant needs to provide an Undertaking that he/she plans to terminate his/her association with the current employer and take up the project full time in the event of the grant approval. An approved resignation/ relieving/ retirement letter shall be required before the release of the grant.
      6. The individual must have a registered company/start-up before release of the grant.
      7. If the applicant is formally employed with a for-profit Startup Company,
         • The application should be submitted under Startup Company; or
         • Alternatively, the applicant needs to provide an undertaking that he/she plans to terminate his/her association with the current employer and take up the project full time in the event of the grant approval (An approved resignation/ relieving/ retirement letter will berequired before the release of the grant).
      8. Individual who is a promoter/shareholder of a Technical Textiles’ Startup Company shall not be eligible to apply as an individual, irrespective of the percentage of shareholding in the Startup Company. In such a case, the application can be submitted through Startup Company, if the Startup Company meets the required eligibility criteria as detailed below.

For Startup Company:

• • • i. The Startup should be incorporated as a private limited company or registered as a partnership firm or a limited liability partnership with a turnover less than INR 100 Crores in any of the previous financial years.

1. 1. 2. The Startup should be working towards innovation/ improvement of existing products, services and processes and should have the potential to generate employment/ create wealth. An entity formed by splitting up or reconstruction of an existing business shall not be considered a "Startup"
      3. The Company should be registered under the Indian Companies Act, 1956/2013.
      4. The incorporation date of the Company should not be greater than 5 years at the time of applying for GREAT call for application submission.
      5. A minimum of 51% of the capital should be owned by resident Indian citizen(s) / or Indian companies which are ultimately owned and controlled by resident Indian citizen(s) to be qualified for the GREAT application.
      6. Startup Company’s application should be represented by a Project Leader (defined in section 7).
      7. The Startup Company should have adequate and functional R&D facility to execute the project, or they must be associated/incubated at an incubator for the project.
      8. If an applicant Startup Company, in which any promoter holding more than or equal to 20% of the shares, is a co-promoter or a partner of another ineligible Startup Company, then the applicant shall not be eligible.

This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES SHRI PABITRA

MARGHERITA in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.   

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MAM

(Lok Sabha US Q1578)