The MoU was exchanged between Dr P Anbalagan, IAS, Principal Secretary (Industries, Investment & Services), Government of Maharashtra, and Dr T V Sreekumar, Director, BTRA, in the presence of Dr Sharad Kumar Saraf, Chairman, BTRA.
In a major step towards strengthening India’s advanced materials and technical textiles sector, The Bombay Textile Research Association (BTRA) and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish India’s first 120 TPA Carbon Fibre Technology Demonstration Plant at PM MITRA Park, Amravati.
The MoU was exchanged between Dr P Anbalagan, IAS, Principal Secretary (Industries, Investment & Services), Government of Maharashtra, and Dr T V Sreekumar, Director, BTRA, in the presence of Dr Sharad Kumar Saraf, Chairman, BTRA.
The project will create a National Centre for Carbon Fibre Technology Development. The centre will include a carbon fibre technology demonstration plant, an advanced research and development centre, a modern testing and characterisation laboratory, a technology validation and scale-up facility, a skill development and training centre, and a platform for industry support and technology transfer.
The facility will help bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercial production by supporting pilot-scale manufacturing, product development, process validation, and technology transfer. It is expected to promote the use of indigenous carbon fibre technology by Indian industries.
Carbon fibre is an important advanced material used in sectors such as aerospace, defence, automotive, renewable energy, railways, infrastructure, hydrogen storage, and sports equipment. The project is expected to reduce India’s dependence on imports, strengthen domestic manufacturing, save foreign exchange, and enhance the country’s strategic capabilities.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr T V Sreekumar said the initiative would promote research, innovation, industry-academia collaboration, support startups and MSMEs, and help develop skilled manpower for the advanced composites sector.
The initiative is aligned with the Government of India’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and the PM MITRA Scheme. It also reinforces Maharashtra’s position as a leading destination for advanced manufacturing, research, and innovation, while strengthening BTRA’s longstanding contribution to research, testing, consultancy, and technology development in textiles and technical textiles.