Government Launches GREAT Initiative, Rs 50 Lakh Grants to Propel Innovation in Technical Textiles Startups

The government's latest initiative involves offering grants of up to Rs 50 lakh to support innovation in the specialized realm of technical textiles. The Startup Guidelines for Technical Textiles, known as GREAT, aims to aid both startups and individuals, fostering innovation and research. Rajeev Saxena, the joint secretary of the Ministry of Textiles, highlighted the approval of this grant program, which spans up to 18 months.

Central to these guidelines is the journey to increase and improve the startup ecosystem within the technical textiles field. The emphasis lies on assisting individuals and businesses in translating prototypes into viable technologies and products, ultimately leading to commercialization, Saxena elaborated.

The approach taken by the government involves offering substantial grants without demanding royalties or equity in return. Incubatees are required to contribute a mere minimum of 10% to the project. Esteemed institutions such as IITs, NITs, Textiles Research Associations, and Centres of Excellence will serve as incubators in this activity.

The GREAT scheme's vision extends to facilitating the transformation of existing research and prototypes into commercially successful ventures. An online portal is set to be launched to facilitate the application process, marking a pivotal step toward realizing this goal. The scheme aligns seamlessly with the objectives of the National Technical Textiles Mission, aiming to support a significant number of startups, ranging from 100 to 150.

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Saxena emphasized the commitment and authenticity of the incubators by mandating a minimum investment of 10% from them, split into two equal installments.

The startup guidelines under the GREAT initiative are strategically designed to invigorate the technical textiles startup landscape, particularly in specialized sub-segments like sustainable textiles, high-performance fibers, and smart textiles.

To operationalize this initiative, selected startups and incubators will be required to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The initiative extends beyond grants, as the ministry has approved the enhancement of laboratory infrastructure and trainer training in technical textiles for 26 institutions.

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The application landscape is broad, with institutions seeking to develop technical textile courses and degree programs. A sum of Rs 151.02 crore has been sanctioned for these pursuits, with a notable focus on both public and private institutes.

Premier institutions, including IIT Delhi, NIT Jalandhar, NIT Durgapur, NIT Karnataka, NIFT Mumbai, and more, have been identified for funding under this initiative.

Additionally, Saxena highlighted the significance of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) in the technical textiles segment. Notably, the ministry has issued QCOs for 31 technical textile products, and more are in the pipeline for approval. This regulatory framework aims to enhance the quality and standards of technical textiles, ensuring their efficacy and safety in various applications.

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