BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday said that the state has secured approval for a Rs 452 crore National Industry Co-Development Hub on Integrated Power Electronics in collaboration with IIT-Bhubaneswar. The state government will contribute Rs 125 crore for the project, he said.
Addressing mediapersons after returning from New Delhi, Majhi said the project will strengthen research and commercialisation in power electronics. It is part of the state’s broader push to develop a semiconductor and advanced technology ecosystem. “The hub will help bridge the gap between research and industry by facilitating the commercial application of technologies,” he said.
The chief minister, who attended Semicon India 2026 and a conference of state Finance ministers chaired by Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi during his two-day visit to the national capital, said the Rs 452 crore project assumes significance as Odisha seeks to build capabilities in semiconductor manufacturing and allied technologies.
At the Finance ministers’ conference, Majhi called for joint Centre-state financing for agricultural logistics, cold chains and warehousing. He also sought viability gap funding and multilateral financing partnerships for energy infrastructure as Odisha transitions towards clean energy.
Majhi said the proposed Odisha Silicon Valley at Naraj in Cuttack district will create opportunities for highly-skilled youth in the state and reduce the need for them to seek employment outside Odisha. “Odisha is now moving from a mine economy to a mind economy,” he said.
He said a letter of intent (LoI) was signed with QuadQuantum for manufacturing silicon carbide substrate wafers. Discussions were also held with global companies, including Lam Research, Applied Materials, SiCSem, 3D Glass Solutions and Intel, besides delegations from Japan, Sweden and Taiwan.
