Odisha Govt Pledges Support for IT Industry’s R&D Efforts in Joint Discussion with NASSCOM

Bhubaneswar: The Electronics and Information Technology (E&IT) Department of Odisha organized a joint discussion session with NASSCOM on Friday, focusing on strengthening the state’s IT sector and fostering research and development (R&D) initiatives.

Addressing the gathering, E&IT Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling highlighted the rapid growth of Odisha’s IT industry and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting its expansion. He announced that dedicated Centres of Excellence (CoEs) would be established to drive innovation and facilitate industry-led R&D. Additionally, a CoE comprising senior industry leaders and distinguished academics will be formed to guide the government’s IT initiatives.

Principal Secretary of the E&IT Department, Vishal Dev, emphasized that the state’s upcoming IT Policy is designed to create a future-ready IT ecosystem in Odisha. He stated that the policy will introduce competitive incentives, IT infrastructure development, skill enhancement programs, and sustainability initiatives, positioning Odisha as a key player in the digital economy.

During the event, officials presented the draft IT Policy, outlining its key features and proposed incentives to bolster industry growth. This was followed by an interactive Q&A session, where industry representatives provided valuable feedback and suggestions for the policy’s finalization.

The draft policy document has been made available for public feedback on the websites of the E&IT Department (https://it.odisha.gov.in/) and Odisha Computer Application Centre (https://www.ocac.in/). Stakeholders can share their inputs via email at ifitp.eit@odisha.gov.in.

The session was attended by Special Secretary of E&IT, Manas Panda, CEO of Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC), Dr. Pradeep Raut, along with representatives from NASSCOM and Odisha’s IT industry, reinforcing the state’s collaborative approach in shaping its digital future.