Viksit Odisha / Dharmendra Pradhan Writes To Ashwini Vaishnaw, Seeks C-DAC Centre In Sambalpur

Sambalpur, Aug 30: Sambalpur MP and former Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has written two separate letters to Union Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking his intervention to establish a regional Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) at Gangadhar Meher University (GMU) in Sambalpur and expand the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) centre in the city.

Pradhan said the initiatives would help strengthen Odisha’s education, IT and technology ecosystem and position Sambalpur as a major hub for technology and innovation.

In his letter seeking a C-DAC centre at GMU, Pradhan highlighted C-DAC’s role as a premier research and development organisation under the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. He said the organisation has contributed significantly to India’s capabilities in areas including PARAM supercomputers, Indian language computing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC).

Pradhan pointed out that Sambalpur is a major educational, technological and economic centre in western Odisha, with institutions such as Sambalpur University, IIM Sambalpur, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), VIMSAR, Odisha State Open University and the OUAT campus at Chiplima.

He said linking C-DAC’s high-performance computing facilities with GMU’s Computer Science and MCA departments could significantly boost research in data analytics, cloud infrastructure and AI.

The proposed centre could also promote collaboration among educational institutions, startups, industries and government agencies in areas such as AI, cybersecurity, Indian language technology and digital solutions, while creating a skilled workforce, Pradhan said.

In his second letter, Pradhan urged Vaishnaw to expand the STPI centre in Sambalpur and transform it into a future-ready IT, Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) and innovation hub.

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He said Sambalpur and its adjoining areas have significant potential in IT, ESDM, semiconductor design and digital infrastructure. While the existing STPI centre has played an important role in promoting the region’s digital economy, its expansion is necessary in view of growing opportunities in IT, startups, AI, semiconductor design and digital services.

Pradhan said expansion of STPI would create high-quality employment opportunities for Odisha’s youth, particularly in semiconductor design, AI, IT and Global Capability Centres (GCCs). It would also promote technology companies, startups, incubation, skill development and innovation.

He further highlighted the presence of institutions such as Sambalpur University, IIM Sambalpur, VSSUT and VIMSAR, along with the Sambalpur-Jharsuguda-Angul industrial corridor, as a strong foundation for developing the region’s technology ecosystem.

Pradhan expressed confidence that establishing a C-DAC centre and modernising the STPI facility in Sambalpur would strengthen Odisha’s digital and technology ecosystem and contribute to India’s emergence as a global technology hub.