The Ministry of Textiles held its second coordination meeting of Textile Research Associations on 29 August 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The session, chaired by Secretary Neelam Shami Rao, brought together textile research bodies, government scientists and industry representatives to discuss how research work can better serve the actual needs of India’s textile manufacturers and businesses.
What was discussed
The meeting reviewed progress since the first coordination committee gathering. Key items included strengthening equipment records and digital systems through the i-TRAMS portal, setting up sub-committees, identifying Centres of Excellence in textiles and new fibre technology, and exploring emerging areas within technical textiles.
Senior government officials stressed that research by these associations must become more industry-focused and results-driven. The emphasis was on converting research into usable technologies, patents, working prototypes and commercial products. The government particularly highlighted the needs of small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the textile sector.
Major topics included:
- Comparing Indian textile research centres against global standards
- Using a formal Technology Readiness Assessment Framework
- Building a stronger startup and innovation environment
- Creating a shared online library for research materials
- Bringing in outside funding sources
- Rolling out projects under the National Technical Textiles Mission
- Growing membership and improving governance
- Measuring performance through key indicators
The government stated that companies should be involved from the very beginning when research topics are being chosen, not added later. This ensures the final research output can actually be adopted by industry.
Each textile research association is expected to prepare Five-Year Plans and Annual Action Plans for 2026-27 that clearly lay out their strategy for research, technology development, testing, skills training and partnerships.
What this means for you
If you work in India’s textile industry or run a small textile business, research conducted by these associations should become more practical and relevant to your actual problems. The push towards commercialising research could lead to new technologies and solutions reaching the market faster. Universities and institutes doing textile research may see clearer paths to turn their work into viable products or patents.