SITRA is one amongst the chain of laboratories in the country. It is sponsored by the Textile industry and supported by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

It is an autonomous scientific research organisation registered in May 1951 under the Societies Registration Act (XXI) of 1860. It is governed by a Council of Administration consisting of twenty-six members who include representatives of the Industry, the Central and State Governments and the scientists from reputed Institutions.

The foundation stone of SITRA was laid by the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 25^th December 1955. SITRA commenced functioning in 1956 in the premises of the Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA), Coimbatore, with 44 member mills and two Divisions.  SITRA's own building was declared open on 13^th October 1958 by Dr. S.Radhakrishnan, the then Vice-President of India. Shri N.Sanjeeva Reddy, the then President of India inaugurated Silver Jubilee celebrations of SITRA on 8th April 1981.

Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, the then President of India inaugurated Golden Jubilee celebrations of SITRA on 24th February 2007.

Sprawling in a campus of about 15 hectares, SITRA is situated at Coimbatore on the National Highway to Chennai and with in easy access to a large number of textile mills.