Bhubaneswar, Jan 16: Odisha took a significant step towards strengthening its startup ecosystem with the inauguration of the State-Level Innovation and Startup Competition at Rama Devi Women’s University on Friday, officials said.

The two-day event, jointly organised by the Higher Education Department and the Odisha State Higher Education Council, brought together 72 students from 14 universities across the state to showcase their entrepreneurial ideas.

Health & Family Welfare, Electronics & Information Technology, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling attended the inaugural ceremony as Chief Guest. After formally inaugurating the event, he visited exhibition stalls and interacted with students about their innovative projects.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Mahaling said the competition reflects the government’s commitment to fostering innovation among students and encouraging them to move beyond textbook-based learning.

The Minister emphasised that such initiatives promote advanced research, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance, aligning with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Government of India’s Startup India mission. He added that experiential learning and innovation are now central to higher education reforms.

The competition follows a multi-tier selection process, beginning at the college level, followed by university rounds. The best participants qualified for the state-level event. At this stage, 10 outstanding startup projects will be selected, each receiving financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh from the Higher Education Department. In addition, mentorship support and facilities for advanced research will be provided to the winners.

Also Read: Dharmendra Pradhan Emphasizes Curriculum Reform, Teacher Training In Odisha Under NEP 2020

Students presented projects across nine categories, including agriculture and rural development, health, food and nutrition, fashion and handloom, artificial intelligence and technology, mental health, finance and business services, education, and environment protection with sustainable development. Participants described the competition as an effective platform to showcase their skills and entrepreneurial potential.

The inaugural event was attended by Additional Secretary Dharani Dhar Nanda, Additional Secretary Pratibha Sahu, Joint Secretary Mausumi Nayak, Vice-Chancellor of Rama Devi Women’s University Prof. Chandi Charan Rath, Vice-Chancellor of Utkal University Prof. Yajneswar Dandapat, Padma Shri awardee Prof. Aditya Prasad Dash, Prof. Bedang Das, and other dignitaries.