Odisha CM Announces Plans For 4 New Digital Hubs To Spur Growth

Bhubaneswar: Asserting that Odisha is poised for its next leap with entrepreneurship, innovation and manufacturing as engines of growth, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday announced the government’s plan to develop three cities as new digital hubs.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of TiECon Bhubaneswar 2025 – A Summit on Entrepreneurship and AI, the CM said that the state government will develop Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur, and Berhampur as new digital hubs, aiming to position the state as a leading innovation destination.
The initiative, he said, aligns with Vision Odisha 2036 and Developed India 2047.

The Chief Minister invited entrepreneurs to partner in Odisha’s growth journey, highlighting the state’s leadership in Global Capability Centres (GCCs), chip design, blockchain, and AI research.
“Once you come here, it will feel like your second home. Together, we can make Odisha the industrial capital of eastern India,” he said.

Organised by TY Bhubaneswar in collaboration with the Government of Odisha, the event brought together over 500 delegates from India, Singapore, UAE, and Sri Lanka.

Odisha Electronics & IT, and Health & Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling underscored the state’s pioneering role in AI adoption, noting it is the first state to have its own AI policy. He cited applications in agriculture and healthcare, such as AI-based coffee plantation monitoring in Koraput and upcoming AI-funded projects to address child malnutrition, maternal mortality (MMR), and infant mortality rates. He also outlined the Odisha Semiconductor Policy and MoUs for establishing a Fintech Centre in Bhubaneswar.

• Day 1 featured discussions on Odisha’s potential in the blue economy, tourism, manufacturing, mining, and women’s entrepreneurship, along with the launch of initiatives like Voice of Entrepreneurship, Ty Women 100, and Entrepreneurship Odisha to foster innovation across all 314 districts and nurture entrepreneurial talent in schools.

• Day 2 hosted an AI Summit with panels on AI Policy 2025, India’s AI Leadership Vision, AI in Entrepreneurship, data centres, skilling, and AI for public services. Sessions included success stories from startups like IG Drones, Mythika, and Skyrider, an AI Masterclass by Satyakam Mohanty, and “Yoga in Entrepreneurship” by Priyanka Sinha.

The following MoUs were also signed during the event:

• Between the Department of Electronics & IT and IIT Bhubaneswar for research, pilot projects, policy inputs, and innovation ecosystem development.

• Between OCAC and Semiconductor Fabless Accelerator Lab (SFAL) to run the O-chip program.

• Between ESC Odisha and Hitachi MGRM for technical collaboration.

• Between TIE Bhubaneswar and incubation centres to strengthen startup networks.