Odisha launches new innovation challenges and hackathons

The Government of Odisha has launched several initiatives to foster innovation and entrepreneurship across the state. The ‘Odisha Seba Prathama Innovation Challenge’ (OSFIC), organized by the MSME Department and Startup Odisha, was officially introduced at O-Hub in Bhubaneswar. The program aims to bridge the gap between local ideas and scalable business models by supporting students, artisans, farmers, and grassroots innovators through a new web portal, cash prizes, and incubation support.

In a related effort, the State-level Hackathon 3.0, known as ‘Odiapreneur’, was inaugurated at IIT Bhubaneswar. This collaborative program between the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education (DHSE), UNICEF Odisha, and the IIT Bhubaneswar Research & Entrepreneurship Park focuses on nurturing creativity and problem-solving among higher secondary students. The event featured 192 students from 101 schools who presented technology-enabled solutions to real-world community challenges.

To strengthen the regional ecosystem, Startup Odisha signed Memorandums of Understanding with AIIMS Bhubaneswar, the World Skill Center, and ASSOCHAM. Additionally, capital grants were distributed to various regional incubators, including NIST, CIPET, and Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University.