A Focussed Incubation Centre for Composites (FICC ) partly sponsored by the Union ministry of textile to promote technical textiles was recently inaugurated at Ahmedabad Textile Industry's Research Association (ATIRA). The centre will be instrumental in developing various textiles prepared from composite materials such as carbon, glass and aramid yarns, among others.

RM Sankar, principal scientific officer, ATIRA, said that they had received a grant of around Rs 3.42 crore for the incubation centre from the Union ministry of textiles. They want to encourage research and development in the sector of composites as they have got a variety of applications, primarily due to certain specific properties of composites which include greater durability, light weight and resistance to high levels of heat and pressure.

The composites have a wide range of applications such as household items, construction material including doors and pre-fabricated walls and furniture, aerospace parts, and mass transportation.

Dr Harish Bisht, director, ATIRA said that it will provide technical support, guidance and resources to entrepreneurs and research students as part of the initiative. Their idea is to encourage research and entrepreneurship in the field of technical textiles, particularly composites.

For this, they will provide the necessary expertise, guidance and technical support. They have a testing facility which can also be helpful to entrepreneurs and research students depending on their requirements.

The institute has collaborated with various institutes including iCreate (technology business incubation centre) along with Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII); National Institute of Design (NID); and Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) of Gujarat government to rope in entrepreneurs and research students.