GREAT SCHEME (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The 8th Empowered Programme Committee (EPC), Ministry of Textiles meeting held recently approved GREAT’ scheme.

Great Scheme

• About: It is designed to support individuals and companies in translating prototypes into technologies and products, including commercialization.
• Full form: Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles.

oIt supports translating prototypes into technologies and products, including commercialization.

• Objective: To foster entrepreneurship and innovation in technical textiles.
• Part of: GREAT is part of the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM).
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Textiles.
• Funding Amount: Up to ₹50 lakhs for a period of up to 18 months.
• Incubators: IITs, NITs, Textiles Research Associations, and Centres of Excellence.
• Eligibility Criteria: Early-stage startups in the technical textiles sector. 

oResearchers: Individual researchers and research groups from recognized institutions. 

oEntrepreneurs: Aspiring entrepreneurs with innovative ideas in technical textiles.

• Coverage: Innovations under all segments of Technical Textiles.
• Project Duration: Up to 18 months, with milestones for project implementation.
• Approved Startup: These projects are focused on key strategic areas of Composites, Sustainable Textiles, and Smart Textiles. The approved Education Institutes have proposed to introduce new B.Tech courses in different fields and applications of technical textiles including Geotextiles, Geosynthetics, Composites, Civil Structures, etc.
• Technical textiles: These are a distinct type of fabric engineered for their performance and functionality rather than for aesthetic or decorative reasons.