In a significant push towards making Odisha a hub for advanced technology and digital governance, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Semiconductor Materials and Devices at the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Bhubaneswar, with an investment of ₹400 crore.
The announcement was made during the valedictory session of Indocrypt 2025, India’s premier international conference on cryptography and information security, hosted by IIIT Bhubaneswar for the first time.
The new Centre of Excellence will focus on skilling, research, innovation, and industry collaboration in semiconductor design and manufacturing, aligning with the national India Semiconductor Mission. “This initiative will position Odisha at the forefront of the country’s semiconductor ecosystem,” the CM stated.
Highlighting Odisha’s commitment to cyber security and digital governance, Shri Majhi noted the state’s leadership in adopting digital platforms for public service delivery, including land records, e-governance services, and disaster early-warning systems. He expressed pride in hosting Indocrypt 2025, emphasising the critical role of cryptography in governance, economy, and national security.
The Chief Minister outlined a comprehensive vision for transforming IIIT Bhubaneswar into a leading centre of excellence in education, research, and innovation. Key announcements include:
– Development of a modern Student Activity Centre and Central Auditorium for academic, cultural, and national events.
– Expansion of state-of-the-art research laboratories across key disciplines.
– Construction of a Sports Complex to promote physical well-being and teamwork.
– Establishment of a Centre for e-Governance and Digital Capacity Building, integrating research in cyber security, AI, machine learning, data science, renewable energy micro-grids, and advanced wireless communication.
– Expansion of pure science departments for long-term academic depth.
The e-Governance centre, in collaboration with the Department of Electronics and IT, will also train skilled professionals in emerging technologies.
Minister for Electronics and IT, Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, spoke on the importance of cyber security for socio-economic growth, praising India’s crypto community’s progress over the past 25 years.
Other speakers included Principal Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev, C-DAC Kolkata Centre Head Dr. A. S. Murthy, Professor Pantelimon Stanica, Programme Chair Professor Ratna Dutta, and IIIT Bhubaneswar Director Dr. Ashish Ghosh, who highlighted the institute’s research and innovation activities.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Special Secretary Dr. Pradeep Kumar Rout.
With these initiatives, IIIT Bhubaneswar is set to emerge as a global leader in technology education and research, reinforcing Odisha’s growing stature in the digital and semiconductor domains.
