Srinagar, May 5 -- When we speak of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat we are not just speaking of self reliance in production but of leadership in global value chains. Few sectors capture this opportunity as clearly as footwear. It is one of the most universal products in daily life used by a school student walking to class, a worker standing through long shifts, a delivery partner constantly on the move and an athlete pushing physical limits. Yet despite being the world's second largest producer India holds only a marginal share in global footwear exports.

The gap is not due to lack of capacity but due to the need for a shift towards materials design and performance. At the centre of this shift lies a category that often goes unnoticed - technical...