Bhubaneswar, August 11: The Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar belonging to the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, will be expanded with a provision for an additional 50 acres of land to support its future growth.

The Odisha Government will provide the land.

A decision to this effect was taken during a meeting between Odisha Science & Technology Minister Krushna Chandra Patra and Union MoS (Science and Technology and Earth Sciences) in New Delhi on Tuesday.

“The expanded institutional capacity can provide a stronger base for research in life sciences and biotechnology and for initiatives linked to the Bio-E3 framework, Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment. This assumes particular significance for Odisha, given its extensive coastline, marine biodiversity and resource base. The State’s marine ecosystem can provide opportunities for biotechnology applications across areas such as bio-resources, health, food, materials and environmental solutions,” said an official release.

The discussions covered the expansion of marine biotechnology, strengthening of life sciences infrastructure, greater utilisation of Odisha’s coastal and mineral resources, space applications and manufacturing, Rare Earth exploration, scientific infrastructure and participation of coastal districts in national marine-environment initiatives.

According to a Ministry of Science & Technology statement, the Union Minister laid out an integrated roadmap for Odisha that brings together Government of India's 'Rare Earth Corridor' proposal, the State's rich marine and coastal resources, biotechnology ecosystem, Space capabilities and network of scientific institutions.

“The Eastern Coastal Region can play a much larger role in India’s emerging Nuclear and Marine roadmap, with Odisha well placed to contribute through coordinated efforts involving Central scientific institutions and the State Government. The approach seeks to move from individual institutional initiatives towards a connected ecosystem spanning ocean resources, critical minerals, life sciences, space technology and technology-led economic development,” said the statement quoting Union Minister Singh.

A key component of the discussions was the Odisha Marine Biotechnology Research & Innovation Corridor (OMBRIC), which is being developed as a collaborative platform bringing together leading academic and research institutions in the State.

The OMBRIC has already established partnerships with IIT Bhubaneswar, Berhampur University, Fakir Mohan University, NIT Rourkela, IISER Berhampur and the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar. The next phase will seek to align this institutional network more closely with Earth Sciences, CSIR and the Department of Biotechnology, enabling Odisha’s marine resources to be connected with advanced research, biotechnology applications and industrial innovation.

The Space Applications Centre in Odisha was another important part of the discussions. The meeting explored closer alignment of the State’s space capabilities with ISRO, including the possibility of developing a Space Research and Manufacturing Centre in PPP mode.

The discussions also covered Odisha’s role in the emerging Rare Earth ecosystem.

The Deep Ocean Mission and the emerging opportunities in deep-sea fisheries also formed part of the broader coastal development agenda. The State has recently taken forward its Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission (2026–2036), aimed at unlocking offshore and deep-sea fisheries potential and developing stronger value chains around the marine economy.

The proposed Science City in Odisha was also discussed as an important public-facing component of the State’s expanding science and technology ecosystem.