Wool Research Association

Centre of Excellence

Wool Research Association has been designated as centre of Excellence for Sports Textiles and allied products as the lead partner duly supported by consortium partners viz. Veermata Jeejabai Technological Institute (VJTI), Mumbai and M/s. Kusumgar Corporates, Mumbai. VISION To become a world-class leading service-driven and research-based international technical textile association to serve the textile industry in general and the Sportech sector in particular.

Mission

To build a complete institution that supports high-quality research and product development on sport textiles for the growth of the textile industry in India.
To provide a platform for the industry to develop new products, upgrade existing ones, and use pilot-scale facilities for technology transfer.
To provide world-class testing facilities as per international standards and develop new test methods where unavailable.
To assist new entrepreneurs with project planning, execution, technical know-how, production, and management.
To organize training programs, workshops, seminars, and conferences to enhance industry knowledge.
To impart education in technical textiles for students of universities/institutions to prepare them for the industry.

Objectives

To provide infrastructure and facilities for sports textiles manufacturers, motivating entrepreneurs to invest in emerging businesses.
To establish laboratories, prototype development facilities, sample banks, competent manpower, and incubation centers for the Sportech sector.
To provide facilities to entrepreneurs and users to ensure knowledge-based development of the technical textile sector.
To offer research support, HRD, consultancy, and incubation of new ideas into practical, tradable products.
To disseminate information through workshops, seminars, and other interactive platforms.

Targeted Beneficiaries

Producers of raw materials and accessories for Sportech products.
Consumers such as sportspersons, sports bodies, and sports enthusiasts.
Sportech manufacturing industries.
Government sports management authorities.
All relevant stakeholders in the Sportech ecosystem.

Problems to be Addressed

Need for alignment between products and markets in Sportech.
High R&D requirements for specialized Sportech products.
Ensuring synergy between raw materials, product & process development, and quality systems.
Absence of classified norms, directives, and standards due to trade secrecy.
Challenges related to IPR and technology sanctions.
Requirement for skilled and trained manpower.