Bhubaneswar, 12th Feb. Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the two-day 100 Cube Start-up Conclave at IIT Bhubaneswar’s Research and Entrepreneurship Park (REP).
The event saw the presence of various dignitaries including Sanjay K. Murthy, Secretary, Higher Education, Ministry of Education, and Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar, among others.
In his address, Pradhan hailed the opening of the Research & Entrepreneurship Park as a landmark day for Odisha, likening it to a modern-day temple akin to the architectural marvel of the Konark temple.
He emphasized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives for youth empowerment, highlighting the importance of fostering an enabling ecosystem for talented youth with a whole-of-society approach.
Stressing on Odisha’s rich tradition of innovation, Pradhan expressed confidence in the potential of academic institutions to provide solutions to global challenges.
He underscored the role of initiatives like 100 Cube Odisha in tapping the untapped potential of youth and driving solution-driven innovation and start-up revolution, with a focus on sectors like Health & BioTech, Artificial Intelligence, and Enterprise Software.
The Minister urged stakeholders to leave a legacy of innovation and enterprise that would inspire future generations, emphasizing the trinity of youth, faculty, and industry as the driving force behind this initiative.
Additionally, Pradhan inaugurated new infrastructure projects and witnessed the exchange of MoUs between startups and REP, further cementing the commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.
Earlier in the day, parallel sessions covering various aspects of entrepreneurship and vision were organized, with Pradhan participating in a fireside chat where he emphasized the abundance of talent and ideas in Odisha and eastern India.
He envisioned the Conclave as a catalyst for making innovation and entrepreneurship a way of life, with Bhubaneswar poised to become an epicenter of solution-centric startups, driving India’s growth trajectory and ensuring global well-being.
