The Ministry of Textiles on Saturday, 29 August directed Textile Research Associations (TRAs) to shift decisively toward industry-driven, outcome-oriented research — with measurable targets covering patents, prototypes, commercialisation, import substitution, and practical solutions for MSMEs. The directive emerged from the second Coordination Committee Meeting of Textile Research Associations, held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, chaired by Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles.

Key Directives from the Meeting

Officials emphasised that industry participation must begin at the conceptualisation stage of research — not after — to ensure relevance and real-world adoption of R&D outcomes. The meeting reviewed progress since the first Coordination Committee Meeting, covering initiatives such as the strengthening of equipment inventory and digital information through the i-TRAMS portal, constitution of sub-committees, identification of Centres of Excellence and New Age Fibres, and consultations on emerging areas of technical textiles.

Areas Under Focus

Deliberations covered a broad agenda: global benchmarking of Centres of Excellence, adoption of a structured Technology Readiness Assessment Framework, strengthening the startup and innovation ecosystem, development of a common e-library platform, mobilisation of external funding, and effective implementation of projects under the National Technical Textiles Mission. Membership growth, skill development, governance reforms, and performance evaluation were also on the table.

Strategic Roadmap and Performance Accountability

The Five-Year Plans and Annual Action Plans for 2026–27 of TRAs are expected to provide a clear strategic roadmap spanning R&D, technology development, testing and standardisation, capacity building, innovation, and institutional collaborations. The meeting underscored the need for a robust KPI-based performance evaluation framework, backed by reliable data and periodic review, to ensure accountability and timely achievement of measurable outcomes.

Role of i-TRAMS

Effective utilisation of the i-TRAMS portal was specifically highlighted for monitoring activities, sharing information, mapping research capabilities, and facilitating linkages between industry requirements and TRA expertise. The platform is positioned as a central coordination tool across TRAs nationwide.

What This Signals

The meeting marks the second such coordination exercise, indicating a structured, iterative approach to aligning TRA activities with national priorities. This comes amid broader government efforts to boost India's technical textiles sector — a segment identified as a high-growth area under the National Technical Textiles Mission. With MSMEs forming the backbone of India's textile industry, translating research into commercially viable, accessible solutions remains the sector's defining challenge going forward.