Centres of Excellence (CoE’s) at Footwear Design and Development Institute are working as a team, a shared facility, or an entity that provides leadership, best practices research, support and training for a focus area. CoE promotes research and the development of new materials, technologies and designs, keeping the industry competitive. It offers advanced training programs to improve the skills of industry professionals, ensures adherence to international quality standards and rigorous testing, boosts exports and job creation by making Indian Footwear Industry more competitive & globally Sustainable, encourages eco-friendly practices and ethical production. Global Competitiveness helps Indian brands expand internationally and gain market recognition. CoE’s are situated in different locations of the country i.e. Noida, Kolkata Chennai, Hyderabad, Rohtak, Jodhpur, and Patna with the objective of Designing and Development of futuristic innovative Footwear (Occupational, Safety, Sports, Traditional, Special purpose) and other related products.
These Center of Excellence’s have been created in different areas such as
1. FDDI Rohtak– Center for Non-Leather Footwear, Products & Accessories,
2. FDDI Jodhpur– Center for High Performance/ Specialized Footwear & Products and Start Ups,
3. FDDI Kolkata - Center for Leather Goods, Garments & Accessories,
4. FDDI Chennai – Center for Design, Development & Fabric Interface,
5. FDDI Hyderabad – Center for Design, Development & Fabric Interface for Leather Products & Accessories- Extended,
6. FDDI Patna- Center for Leather Finishing Innovation & Product Retailing
7. FDDI Noida - Center for R&D, Course Development & Leather Fashion Footwear & Products Innovation.
These CoE’s have been provided with the facility specifically equipped for addressing the particular thematic area of specialization and having the best available infrastructure and skills to not only aid research and development, but also address concerns of the industry like product development, technological assistance and centres for incubation and entrepreneurship development.
To meet the cutting edge technological requirement such as additive manufacturing, AI based application in design and data analysis, latest software’s, augmented reality application and digital enterprise, FDDI has already initiated the process in line to the need of Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) for footwear and allied sector through establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoEs).
These CoEs will help to create R&D capacities in specific areas of specialization to address critical shortage of knowledge base in emerging technologies.
Footwear Research & its Importance
Footwear research is crucial in India for several reasons, addressing both economic and social dimensions. Economically, India is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of footwear, making this industry a significant contributor to the national GDP. Research in this sector can enhance manufacturing processes, leading to higher quality products and increased competitiveness in global markets. This, in turn, can create jobs and boost the economy.
From a social perspective, research is essential to cater to the diverse needs of India's vast population, which spans various climates, terrains, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Properly designed footwear can improve public health by preventing foot-related ailments and enhancing mobility. This is particularly important for the rural and urban poor, who may suffer from inadequate footwear options.
Moreover, advancements in footwear technology can support sustainability by promoting eco-friendly materials and practices, addressing the environmental impact of traditional manufacturing methods. Research can also foster innovation, leading to the development of smart footwear with health-monitoring capabilities, which can be valuable in a country with growing health concerns.
In summary, footwear research in India is vital for economic growth, public health, sustainability, and innovation, ensuring the industry meets both domestic needs and international standards.
Efficacy and Utility of COE’s
● The COEs can do improvise of existing products after doing gap analysis in the fields of (Safety Shoes, Sports, Occupational, Fashion, Traditional footwear and components/accessories; Orthosis/Prosthesis, and leather goods) through systematic research / SWOC analysis with the help of the infrastructure developed at COE.
● Can play an important role to provide inputs on materials, production, design, cost, functionality, ergonomics & human factor issues to industries & academia for designing & development of innovative/ competitive futuristic products/accessories for domestic as well as International market.
● Can take on research and development through Public-Private-Partnership as projects and can provide long-term support system from industry.
● This research can help to design and development of customized footwear for different occupation and different terrains to increase health, safety, performance and productivity and vis-à-vis reduce risk of injuries, loss of man days, cost of medical care as a whole quality of life.
● Can help to create job opportunities and develop skill human resource for conducting research activities in the area of footwear sectors through young scientists/researchers, Interns, Junior/ Senior research fellows, Research assistant, Technician to meet requirement of industry for design and development of innovative products and enhance export capacity and capability.
● Generation of revenue in terms of currency or Intellectual property rights to reap commercial benefits from creative efforts or reputation.
