Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced a major investment of Rs 400 crore to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) at IIIT Bhubaneswar for the development of the semiconductor sector.
The announcement was made on Wednesday during the valedictory session of Indocrypt 2025, India’s premier international conference on cryptography and information security, which was hosted by IIIT Bhubaneswar for the first time.
The CM said Odisha is committed to strengthening cyber security, digital governance and advanced technology research in the state.
“The centre of excellence in semiconductor materials and devices will promote skilling, research, innovation and industry collaboration in design and manufacturing, aligned with India’s National Semiconductor Mission,” Majhi was quoted in a statement issued by the CMO.
He also expressed pride that Indocrypt was being held in the state for the first time. He further said the event reflects the growing academic and research stature of IIIT Bhubaneswar.
CM Majhi emphasized that in today’s data-centric era, cryptography and cybersecurity are no longer niche fields but are foundational to national security, economic stability, and public trust.
To support this long-term vision, the Chief Minister detailed a comprehensive plan to upgrade IIIT Bhubaneswar’s physical and academic infrastructure.
“A modern student activity centre and a central auditorium will be developed to support academic, cultural and national-level events. The government will also support the expansion of research laboratories across key disciplines,” the chief minister said.
A new sports complex will be established to foster physical well-being and a spirit of teamwork among students, he said.
He further revealed the state government’s plans to establish a centre for e-governance and digital capacity building at IIIT Bhubaneswar.
The proposed centre will integrate research and applications in cyber security, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, renewable energy micro-grids and advanced wireless communication, with a strong focus on governance and public service delivery.
In collaboration with the Department of Electronics and IT, the centre will also play a crucial role in training skilled professionals, he said, adding that the government also envisages the expansion of pure science departments at the institute.
CM Majhi concluded by stating that IIIT Bhubaneswar is on the path to becoming a premier global hub for innovation.
Speaking on the occasion, Odisha’s IT minister Mukesh Mahaling highlighted the importance of cybersecurity for socio-economic growth.
