Bhubaneswar: In all 130 start-up ventures have been brought under the Odisha Start-up Initiative.
The information was shared at the second Start-up Council meeting presided over by chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi on Wednesday.
The meeting decided to support the setting up of a world-class state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence at IIT Bhubaneswar's Research & Entrepreneurship Park.
The centre got a kick-start following a philanthropic contribution of Rs. 2.5 crore from Susmita Bagchi and a matching grant of Rs. 2.5 crore by the state government.
Director general of Software Technology Park of India (STPI) Omkar Rai, who was present at the meeting, assured that they would provide a fund support of Rs. 2.5 crore for the centre.
Director IIT, Bhubaneswar, Raja Kumar said the centre would have a world-class incubation facility, laboratory, highly-focused courses along with education and skill development programmes.
The council also approved the product development and financial assistance to two new start-ups in the field of "automation in industry maintenance", and "alternative technology for repair of oil and gas pipelines".
Various activities for coming six months with estimated expenditure of Rs 15 crore was discussed and approved at the meeting.
Xaviers Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB), Centurial University, IITM, and KIIT were nominated for evaluating the start-up proposals and sponsoring those to the council.
Earlier, the council had nominated six nodal agencies for evaluating and processing start-up applications.
Additional chief secretary L.N. Gupta said: "So far 18 entrepreneurs are getting financial assistance from the council. With today's' approval, the number went up to 20."
"These start-ups are working in 34 different sectors ranging from agriculture to aeronautics, analytic to virtual reality, health sector to human resources, renewable energy to robotics and from tourism to transportation," he added.
"Four incubation centres operating in the state have been brought under the fold of the council. Odisha Start-up Policy has already been notified. An interactive website www.startupodisha.gov.in has been launched and is operating successfully," Gupta said.
Chairman of the Odisha skill Development Authority Subroto Bagchi suggested engaging more evaluating institutions to scout for more innovations.
