Odisha's Ambitious Digital Hub Initiative: Aiming for Innovation Leadership

Transforming Odisha into a Digital Powerhouse

Bhubaneswar: On Sunday, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced an ambitious plan to develop Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur, and Berhampur into digital innovation hubs, with the goal of establishing Odisha as a premier destination for technological advancement.

This initiative is part of the broader Vision Odisha 2036 and Developed India 2047 strategies. During the opening of the two-day National Entrepreneurship Summit – TiECon Bhubaneswar 2025, Majhi encouraged entrepreneurs to join in the state's growth, emphasizing Odisha's capabilities in Global Capability Centres (GCCs), chip design, blockchain technology, and artificial intelligence research.

He stated, “Once you arrive here, it will feel like your second home. Together, we can elevate Odisha to become the industrial hub of eastern India.”

The summit, organized by TiECon Bhubaneswar in partnership with the state government, attracted over 500 participants from countries including India, Singapore, the UAE, and Sri Lanka.

Minister Mukesh Mahaling, overseeing Electronics & IT and Health & Family Welfare, highlighted Odisha's leadership in AI initiatives, noting, “We are the first state to implement our own AI Policy and have earmarked Rs 25 crore for the Odisha AI Mission in the 2025–26 budget.”

He also pointed out the Odisha Semiconductor Policy and the agreements made to set up a Fintech Centre in Bhubaneswar.

TiE Bhubaneswar president AK Mohanty remarked, “This summit has highlighted Odisha’s potential and established a foundation for international collaborations.”

The closing ceremony featured notable attendees such as E&IT Principal Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev, TiE Global chairman Murali Bukkapatnam, TiE Bhubaneswar president AK Mohanty, Jajpur MP Rabindra Narayan Behera, along with prominent industry leaders, global entrepreneurs, and government officials.