Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday launched the Odisha Seva First Innovation Challenge (OSFIC), a statewide initiative aimed at encouraging innovation and developing practical solutions to real-world challenges.
The challenge was launched by Startup Odisha under the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Department at O-Hub here in the presence of ministers, policymakers, industry representatives and stakeholders from the startup ecosystem.
MSME and Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik said ideas from the top 20 winners would be compiled into a compendium to help showcase the innovations and potentially attract investment.
He urged students and young people to pursue their interests and assured them of government support in developing innovative solutions. He also stressed the need to strengthen incubation facilities and promote entrepreneurship to help young people become job creators.
Industries and Skill Development & Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain said innovation could emerge from villages, farms, artisan communities, educational institutions and women’s initiatives, and underlined the need for development to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
Science & Technology and Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra called for directing innovation towards public service and nation-building. He said a blueprint had been prepared under a proposed Odisha Innovation Mission to promote areas including biotechnology and artificial intelligence.
The initiative seeks to bring together more than one lakh participants under three categories — Students, Youth and Grassroots Innovation Talents.
Students from schools, universities and technical institutions, startups and MSMEs, artisans, farmers, women self-help groups, senior citizens, NCC and NSS units and other eligible participants can participate.
The launch also saw the unveiling of the OSFIC web portal and signing of strategic MoUs between Startup Odisha and AIIMS Bhubaneswar, World Skill Centre and ASSOCHAM.
One-time capital grants were also distributed to incubators including ACURATE, NIST, CIPET and SOA.
Startup Odisha CEO Smruti Ranjan Pradhan delivered the welcome address, while MSME Commissioner-cum-Secretary and Startup Odisha Chairperson Rashmita Panda outlined the initiative’s strategic objectives. Former Rajya Sabha MP Amar Patnaik attended the event as the distinguished guest.
The challenge will culminate in a grand finale, with financial rewards for winners. Interested participants can register through the OSFIC portal.
