Odisha Govt and California University Sign MoU to Boost High-Tech Research in Agriculture and Other Fields

In a significant step towards fostering research and development in the state, the Odisha Government has recently signed two crucial Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with prestigious institutions - the University of California, Berkeley, and Frost & Sullivan.

The first MoU was inked with the University of California, Berkeley, and aims to facilitate cooperation in various areas, including research, impact assessment of schemes, entrepreneurship, and exchange of academic publications. The partnership is set to pave the way for joint research projects, conferences, workshops, and training sessions in cutting-edge domains. High-tech training workshops are anticipated to benefit around 1,000 researchers, enabling them to contribute to transformative developments in Odisha.

Additionally, the collaboration opens up opportunities for the State Government to tap into UC Berkeley's impressive alumni network, facilitating further collaboration on various initiatives.

Speaking about the momentous partnership, Tusharkanti Behera, the Minister of Electronics and IT, expressed his anticipation of countless areas of cooperation, knowledge sharing, and research, which would mutually benefit both societies. Anu Garg, the Development Commissioner of Odisha, emphasized how this broad-ranging collaboration would significantly stimulate the state's research and development ecosystem, propelling its overall progress.

In the initial phase of this collaboration, pilot projects in crucial sectors such as Disaster Management and Climate Control, Healthcare, Fintech, and Agriculture will be launched. Additionally, exploring emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and generative AI for governance systems promises to revolutionize public service delivery mechanisms. Furthermore, the partnership envisions the implementation of joint initiatives like student exchange programs, start-up exchange programs, and start-up acceleration programs, fostering an atmosphere of innovation and growth.

Simultaneously, the second MoU was signed with Frost & Sullivan, a globally renowned consulting and advisory firm, to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bhubaneswar. This CoE aims to create a conducive environment for investors, entrepreneurs, academicians, and students to collaborate with industries, accelerating the state's overall development.

As part of this initiative, Frost & Sullivan will also facilitate training programs in technological areas for over 50,000 youth, particularly in remote locations and villages, empowering the youth with valuable skills for the future. The Odisha Government delegation, led by Minister Tushar Kanti Behera, also held significant meetings with prominent leaders from Amazon, Apple, Stanford University, Eficens, Unison Capital, and Iron Pillar during their official visit to the United States.

The delegation also interacted with Yusuf Jamal, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Skyworks Solutions Inc., an electronics industry veteran. The Odisha delegation briefed Jamal about the state's "Semiconductor Manufacturing and Fabless Policy 2023," which has received Cabinet approval. Skyworks Solutions Inc. expressed interest in exploring investment opportunities in India and was invited to consider setting up an R&D facility in Odisha.