Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, inaugurated the two-day 100 Cube Start-up Conclave at IIT Bhubaneswar, Research and Entrepreneurship Park (REP). Secretary, Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Shri Sanjay K. Murthy; Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Shri Sanjay Kumar; Director, IIT Bhubaneswar, Prof. ShreepadKarmalkar; Chairman, Board of Governors, Dr.Rajendra Prasad Singh; representatives of foreign governments, delegates from the industry, particularly the deep tech sector, academia, start-ups, students, and other eminent business leaders were also present at the event.
While addressing the audience, Shri Pradhan stated that the launch of the IIT Bhubaneswar Research & Entrepreneurship Park is a watershed moment for Odisha, and that the 100 Cube Conclave lays the groundwork for eastern India’s entrepreneurial spirit to flourish.
Shri Pradhan stated that, like the Konark temple, which is a symbol of Odisha’s architectural greatness, this effort would be a 21st-century temple that will encourage and empower young people to dream big, innovate, and create value.
He also said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s initiatives for the youth have ensured that the AmritKaal turns out to be the golden age for the young generations. Expressing his gratitude to the corporates and investors who have signed MoUs and have generously contributed to support the initiative, he urged for handholding the youngsters. He also added that the world looks at India and its youth with hope and therefore it is a must to provide an enabling ecosystem to the talented youth with a whole-of-a-society approach.
Shri Pradhan also said that innovation is in the DNA of Odia society and the academic institutions have the potential to provide solutions to global problems. Initiatives like 100 Cube Odisha will tap the untapped potential of the youth and engineer solution-driven innovation and start-up revolution, he said. The trinity of youth, faculty and industry will drive this initiative, Shri Pradhan added. He invited everyone to leave a legacy of innovation and enterprise that will inspire the world in the years to come.
The Minister of State for Environment, Forestry and Climate Change (MOE) inaugurated a new auditorium and digitally laid the foundation stone for several infrastructure projects. A short film on the Renewable Energy Project (REP) was also shown, and MoUs were exchanged between 16 startups and REP. Four startups incubated at IIT Bhubaneswar received grant cheques from Oil India Ltd. An exhibition of startup products was set up before the inauguration of the Conclave. The current focus areas of the REP are Health & BioTech, Battery/EV/ClimateTech, Artificial Intelligence, SpaceTech, Drones, UAVs, Semi-conductors, and Enterprise software.
Earlier in the day, five parallel sessions were organized titled 100 Cube: Confluence of Culture, Entrepreneurship and Vision, 100 Cube: Industry Catalyst igniting Purvodaya Start-up Mission, Nurturing New Ideas for Viksit Bharat @2047, Industry Startup Relationship: Nurturing a Successful Partnership, and Sustainable Approach for Institutionalizing Innovation and Startup Ecosystem Development in Educational Institutions. S
hri Pradhan, in a fireside chat, highlighted the potential of the conclave to make innovation and entrepreneurship a way of living in Odisha and eastern India. The initiative aims to make Bhubaneswar and Odisha an epicentre of solution-centric start-ups, boosting India’s growth trajectory and ensuring global well-being.
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