Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and SVPISTM have signed an MoU covering research, practical training, technology transfer and value-added product development in sericulture and textiles.
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) and the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International School of Textiles and Management (SVPISTM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen academic, research and technical collaboration in sericulture and textiles.
The partnership will focus on post-cocoon technology and textile-oriented activities, creating opportunities for closer cooperation between agricultural education and textile-sector expertise. SVPISTM is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, based in Coimbatore.
A major component of the collaboration is practical training for TNAU students specialising in sericulture. Students will gain hands-on exposure to silk processing, textile applications and value-added product development, helping connect academic learning with industrial practices.
The agreement will also provide TNAU students with access to SVPISTM’s specialised facilities for textile testing, processing, weaving, knitting and garment construction. These resources are expected to support technical skill development and applied learning.
Beyond education and training, the partnership is intended to support technology transfer, capacity building and innovation in the sericulture and textile sectors. The institutions will explore the development of new applications and value-added products based on silk and other textile-related materials.
The collaboration adds to TNAU’s existing involvement in sericulture research and training. The university’s Department of Sericulture has a teaching, research and extension mandate, with programmes extending from postgraduate education to doctoral-level research.
SVPISTM, meanwhile, operates programmes and research activities covering areas including textile management, apparel, technical textiles, textile business analytics and textile design. The institute was established by the Ministry of Textiles to support education, research and consultancy for the textile sector.
The new partnership could create opportunities for joint research and product development by combining TNAU’s expertise in sericulture and agricultural resources with SVPISTM’s capabilities in textile processing and product applications.
The initiative also fits into wider efforts to strengthen research and innovation within Tamil Nadu’s textile ecosystem. The state has been supporting research and business development in technical textiles and man-made fibres, including projects aimed at developing new products, improving functional properties and commercialising technologies.
For the sericulture and textile industries, closer links between educational institutions and specialised textile facilities can help develop skilled talent while encouraging new applications for silk and other fibre-based materials. The TNAU-SVPISTM collaboration provides a framework for that type of knowledge and technology exchange.