24 Startup Projects Approved Under GREAT Scheme: Mos Textiles

(MENAFN- KNN India) New Delhi, Feb 14 (KNN) Minister of State for Textiles Pabitra Margherita, replying to a question, informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday that 24 startup projects have been approved under the 'Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT)' guidelines.

The scheme operates under the National Technical Textiles Mission to support young innovators, scientists, technologists and startups in developing commercially viable technologies and products in technical textiles. Each selected startup is eligible for financial assistance of up to Rs 50 lakh.

State-Wise Distribution and Focus Areas

The minister stated that the approved projects are spread across nine States and Union Territories, with Maharashtra accounting for six startups, followed by Delhi with five and Tamil Nadu with four. Gujarat has three approved projects, Karnataka two, while Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have one each.

The selected startups are working across advanced segments of technical textiles. These include functional fabrics such as temperature-responsive and self-sanitising textiles, graphene-based smart textiles and energy-harvesting materials, and shape-memory wearables for healthcare.

Projects also cover high-performance composites for automotive, construction and defence applications, sustainable materials such as hemp–bioplastic composites, biodegradable tyre yarns and algae-based leather alternatives, as well as medical products including antimicrobial textiles and surgical simulators.

A Review and Monitoring Committee has been constituted to track project progress. The Ministry also conducts workshops and outreach programmes to promote industry participation and support scaling up of innovations.

Eligibility Criteria

Individual applicants must be Indian citizens aged 21 years or above, serve as project leaders, and be incubated in an approved incubator before final approval. Employed applicants must provide a No Objection Certificate or undertake to resign and work full-time if selected.

Registration of a company or startup is mandatory before grant disbursement, and promoters of existing technical textile startups are not eligible to apply as individuals.

Startup applicants must be incorporated as a private limited company, partnership or LLP with turnover below Rs 100 crore in any previous financial year and be registered under the Companies Act, 1956 or 2013.

They must have been incorporated within five years of application, maintain at least 51 per cent ownership by resident Indian citizens, demonstrate innovation and employment potential, and possess adequate R&D facilities or incubation support.

(KNN Bureau)

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