Frenetic interest in sports today is driving R&D in sportech

Rendezvous

Frenetic interest in sports today is driving R&D in sportech

The Sportech Centre of Excellence (COE), among the last COEs to be established, should be ready with its facilities within a year. In an exclusive interview with Reena Mital, Dr M K Bardhan, Director, Wool Research Association, which handles the Sportech, speaks about the COE's future plans.

How has Sportech progressed in the last one year?

Our Sportech lab and the Sportech pilot plant are in the process of getting ready. We have installed around 25-26 pilot plant machines, and lab equipment. We are now in the process of revising our detailed project report (DPR), to add and remove some of the machines in the list submitted to the government originally. Two years ago, we had to prepare the DPR in a short span of 10 days, based on available information. Today, we have access to more information and resources, and realize that we have missed out on some machines, and added some machines that are not really needed.

For instance, we want to add astro turf machine now. We originally planned to buy a stenter, but this machine is easily available with the industry, our usage of a stenter is not more than 2-3 times in a year, so we feel there is no need to invest Rs 80 lakh or so in this machine. Also, some machines worth Rs 1.5-1.8 crore have been donated by Raymond, so these will be struck off the list. Through the textile commissioner's office, we will get the DPR revised and reviewed.

The government has released the second instalment of Rs 8 crore, and we want the DPR revision to be sanctioned before we use these funds. Alongside these two facilities, we are setting up an information center comprising of a well-stocked library, IT facilities. And training facilities for the shop floor and for trainers. Another important facility coming up is the incubation center, where scientists, technologists, entrepreneurs, can give shape to their ideas, transforming them into products and processes. Four scientists handle the pilot plant, three scientists have been assigned to the lab, and one for the information center.

By when will the facilities be fully operational?

This could take another year, as procurement of machines and equipment is a time-consuming process, with the tender system.

In terms of product development, what is the progress at the Sportech Center of Excellence?

In the last one year, we have identified a dozen clusters engaged in manufacturing sportech items. In Ludhiana, Jalandar, Amritsar, we carried out awareness training programs. We've also conducted three seminars, with our consortium partner VJTI, one at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, one in Ludhiana and one in Amritsar

As far as product development goes, we would be on firmer ground once the facilities are in place. Sportech has three components - sportswear, accessories and equipment. Sportswear today is a high performance product, be it swimwear, high altitude sports clothing, adventure sports gear, mountaineering, high speed sports such as cricket, football, etc.

A lot of technical designing goes into the development of these apparel, to ensure optimum performance for the athlete, without compromising comfort, and while conforming with fashion trends. Sports has assumed a lot of importance as battles today are fought not on the warfield, but on the play field, and so players have to be equipped with the best. And this is driving R&D in Sportech.

Will these facilities be enough to develop Sportech products and markets in India?

It is a tough and ambitious project, and certainly most of the COEs could have done with some more assistance. The government has funded the setting up of the lab and pilot plant facilities, but has not taken into consideration the other recurring expenditure, such as salaries of the scientists at the COEs, AMCs for the high tech equipment, etc. The reasoning is that the COEs have the freedom to attract consortiums and private sector participation. This will not happen initially, and for some reason, the government and the industry lose sight of the fact that most of the COEs (except two) are basically research institutes, with no obvious means of generating funds from the market.

To what extent do you expect the Sportech COE facilities to be utilized by the industry?

Initially, usage will not be extensive. Later, as we develop prototypes of products that are needed by the market, create awareness about the need for such products within the industry, will usage of the facilities increase.

What are the developments happening at the Wool Research Association?

In the 12th Plan, the government has approved funds of Rs 4.5 crore, for refurbishing the lab with state-of-the-art equipment. This is going on now. In the last 5-6 years, our R&D record has been quite good, 6-7 of our patent applications have been approved. We have developed a digital color matching software for wool dyers, wherein we give them standard recipes. Raymond is one of the companies using this service.

We are also working on a project wherein we will impregnate carpet that will generate negative ions when one walks on it, thus energizing the user. There are many more projects that our scientists are working on.