New Delhi, November 07, 2023: The British Council, the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, has opened a call for participation in the New Landscapes India: R&D Grant Scheme, in partnership with the University of the Arts London (UAL) for Indian designers, design entrepreneurs, and SMEs.
The New Landscapes Catalyst Grant Scheme, led by the Fashion, Textiles, and Technology Institute at the University of the Arts London in collaboration with the British Council, recognizes the need for India's fashion, textiles, and technology industries to assess their impact on society and the environment. Since its inception in 2021, this international program has been fostering innovation and research in sustainable fashion, textiles, and technology.
Alison Barrett MBE, Director India, British Council, highlighted that the partnership with UAL offers Indian designers, entrepreneurs, and SMEs the opportunity to engage in collaborative innovation in sustainable fashion and technology.
The New Landscapes India: R&D Grant Scheme, spanning three years, aims to encourage collaboration in sustainable fashion, textiles, and technology between stakeholders in India and the UK. It will provide seven grants of up to £7,000 each for collaborative projects between Indian SMEs, designers, researchers, entrepreneurs, institutions, collectives, or non-profits and their UK counterparts, with support from the British Council.
Professor Jane Harris, Director of the University of the Arts London Fashion, Textiles and Technology Institute (UAL FTTI) said “FTTI will facilitate a supported risk-taking R&D culture, enabling an exchange of knowledge and methods of designing and producing in a more sustainable and socially engaged way. FTTI’s work to date with small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across fashion, textiles and technology sectors, is seeing a new type of future with SMES as the driving force behind sustainable innovation that critically is better for people and planet.”
Participants will receive support from the University of the Arts London's Fashion, Textiles, and Technology Institute (UAL FTTI), including mentorship from experienced academics and FTTI staff, along with opportunities for showcasing their work. Successful project completion in the first year will make grantees eligible for further funding in the second year.
Key eligibility information:
- The call is open to all Indian designers, design entrepreneurs, and SMEs.
- Applications must involve a partnership between at least one Indian applicant and at least one UK applicant.
- Indian applicants must represent an enterprise, collective, non-profit, or institution with a minimum of three years of experience.
- Applicants must demonstrate strong collaboration, knowledge exchange, and mutual benefit for their partners in their application.
- Successful applicants must demonstrate the ability to carry out project activities between April 2024 and September 2024, with a requirement to host a public event presenting their findings in late 2024.
