Bhubaneswar, Jan 19: Odisha Government through Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Department along with Software Technology Park of India, Smt. Susmita Bagchi, a noted Odia Writer and Philanthropist on Friday signed an MoU with IIT, Bhubaneswar for establishment of an Incubator namely, ‘Centre of Excellence for Virtual & Augmented Reality’ (VARCoE) at the campus of IIT, Bhubaneswar in presence of the Odisha’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Shri Patnaik, while appreciating the efforts of Startup Odisha Initiative, stated that the Centre will be one of its kinds in the country being set up with a unique collaborative partnership between State government, Government of India through STPI, a Philanthropist and an IIT.
He added that the incubator on Virtual Augmented Reality at IIT, Bhubaneswar will be a landmark initiative for promoting research, technology incubation and product development in the country. The Centre will cater to the startups and new generation entrepreneurs working in the area of Virtual Augmented Reality for immersive visualisation and allied areas.
The centre will undertake state-of-the-art research, develop testing facility/laboratories for advanced algorithms, applications and methods in aid of Virtual and Augmented Reality for Immersive Visualization and allied areas. It will also offer highly focused courses on AR / VR to the students. It will help in developing application platforms for specific skill development programs based on the industry need and relevance.
On this occasion, a cheque of Rs. 2.5 crore was handed over to Director, IIT Bhubaneswar as contribution from State Government’s Startup Odisha Initiative for setting up the Centre.
Minister, MSME, W&CD & SSEPD Shri Prafulla Samal stated that the proposed incubator at IIT, Bhubaneswar will focus on futuristic field of Virtual and Augmented Reality. State Government and MSME Department are committed to achieve the vision of supporting 1000-Startups by 2020, he added.
On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary L.N. Gupta informed that since the launch of Startup Odisha Portal on 1st May, 2017 by the Chief Minister, 162 Startups ranging from health care and life sciences to HR and household services, IT and IOT to Finance Technology and Food Services are registered under the Startup Odisha Initiative and 20 of them are getting benefits. Besides, 04 recognised and 20 other incubators are working across the State for incubation of the startups.
Among others, Prof. R.V. Rajakumar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar and Omkar Rai, Director, General, STPI, Government of India was present.
