Partnership to focus on speciality man-made fibres, medical textiles, sustainable processing, capacity building and technical cooperation
The South India Textile Research Association (SITRA) and the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote research and technical cooperation in textile innovation and technology development.
The MoU was signed during the Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show (TITAS) 2026, held in Taiwan from October 6 to 8, 2026. Mr. G. Raj Kumar, Vice Chairman of SITRA, signed the agreement on behalf of SITRA, while Mr. Chiu Sheng-fu, Vice President of TTRI, signed on behalf of TTRI. Representatives from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) attended the ceremony, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in advancing textile research and technical capabilities.
The collaboration will focus on developing man-made fibres for speciality applications, medical textiles and sustainable solutions for the textile processing industry. These areas are expected to support the development of advanced textile products and resource-efficient processes to address emerging industrial and societal needs.
The partnership combines SITRA’s expertise in textile research, testing, consultancy, training and industry support with TTRI’s capabilities in advanced textile technologies, applied research and innovation. The initiative aims to translate shared knowledge and research expertise into practical and scalable solutions for the textile industry.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. G. Raj Kumar, Vice Chairman of SITRA, said that the MoU marks the beginning of a forward-looking partnership between two institutions committed to advancing textile technology, strengthening industrial competitiveness and promoting a sustainable, innovation-driven textile sector.
The agreement outlines three key areas of cooperation: capacity building, collaborative research and technology development, and testing and standards. Capacity-building initiatives will include training programmes, expert lectures, workshops, researcher interactions, industrial visits and knowledge-sharing activities.
Technical collaboration will cover sustainable processing, functional and technical textiles, advanced fibres, resource-efficient manufacturing, recycling, circularity, digitalisation and automation. Cooperation in testing and standards will focus on improving quality assurance, laboratory practices, method validation, proficiency comparisons and alignment with international requirements.
Emphasising the importance of achieving measurable results, Mr. Raj Kumar noted that the partnership’s value would be reflected in the projects undertaken, expertise exchanged, people trained and industrial impact created through joint efforts.
The agreement marks a significant step towards strengthening institutional ties between SITRA and TTRI and promoting closer cooperation between India and Taiwan in textile research and technological development. Through knowledge sharing, joint research and capability enhancement, the partnership aims to support a more sustainable, innovative and globally competitive textile industry.