Textile Ministry approves 31 startup ventures under GREAT scheme

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Ministry of Textiles has approved 31 startups under the Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT) scheme, sanctioning Rs13.65 crore in direct financial capital out of a cumulative Rs 15.40 crore project. The scheme disburses grant of up to Rs 50 lakh per venture, targeting early-stage R&D bottlenecks to boost the pilot-to-production scale of specialized synthetic fibers, bio-derived functional filaments, and advanced circular yarn systems.

The distribution spans 10 states, led by manufacturing clusters in Maharashtra with seven ventures, Tamil Nadu with six, and Gujarat with four. R&D focuses primarily on industrial substitutes for imported petrochemical polymers, utilizing hemp-based composites, algae-derived filaments, and bio-extract resins alongside closed-loop textile-to-textile recycling methods.

Commercializing high-performance specialty fibers requires targeted seed support to bridge the capital gap between lab testing and commercial weaving operations, points out Pabitra Margherita, Union Minister of State for Textiles. Industry estimates indicate, domestic production of temperature-responsive, functional, and circular technical yarns could reduce raw material import costs for apparel exporters by 15 to 18 per cent over the next three fiscal cycles. Despite high machinery setup costs and stringent global sustainability audits, this capital injection strengthens India's position in the global technical textile and eco-friendly yarn trade.

National Technical Textiles Mission functions as a central policy framework established in 2020 by the Ministry of Textiles. It drives research, domestic infrastructure, functional yarn development, and market penetration across technical sectors. Aiming for $40 billion in output by 2030, the mission finances startup grants, institutional research, and specialized technical skill development.