The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar is stepping up to become a key semiconductor hub in eastern India, according to Odisha’s Electronics & Information Technology (E&IT) Minister Mukesh Mahaling.

The announcement came at the institute’s 18th Foundation Day event, where the institute’s role in research and industry linkages was highlighted.

“The institute’s focus on high-end research, innovation and industry partnerships will guide its push into the semiconductor sector.”

-said Mahaling

He described the move as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Odisha’s position in technology and advance the state’s innovation ecosystem.

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Strengthening Industry–Academia Links

The minister pointed to several initiatives expected to bolster the state’s semiconductor footprint. These include the SicSem Semiconductor Unit, SDM Park and NaMo Semiconductor Lab. According to Mahaling, these projects are designed to deepen collaboration between academia and industry in semiconductor design and manufacturing.

Focused investment in adjacent technology areas, such as artificial intelligence (AI), data centres and graphics processing units (GPUs), was also underscored as central to positioning Odisha as a competitive tech and innovation hub.

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Broader Semiconductor and Tech Ecosystem Initiatives

The push to establish IIT Bhubaneswar as a semiconductor hub aligns with state and national efforts to grow the chip ecosystem. Earlier approvals have been granted for a NaMo Semiconductor Lab at the institute to train students in chip design, fabrication and packaging.

Odisha has also seen high-investment semiconductor projects, including an integrated silicon carbide chip manufacturing facility and a 200+ acre Semiconductor and Electronic System Design & Manufacturing Park next to the IIT campus.

The developments are a part of the state’s broader strategy to attract technology investment, expand research capacity and contribute to India’s goal of boosting domestic semiconductor capabilities.