Bhubaneswar, September 30: The Startup Odisha, under the Department of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, on Wednesday officially launched the Odisha Seva First Innovation Challenge (OSFIC) in Bhubaneswar.
Designed to foster innovation, entrepreneurship and service-oriented problem-solving, OSFIC aims to provide a platform for people across Odisha to develop practical solutions to real-world challenges and contribute to the state’s socio-economic development.
The launch event was graced by Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Minister Gokulananda Mallik, Science & Technology Minister Krushna Chandra Patra and Industries and Skill Development & Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain.
The event also brought together policymakers, industry representatives and key stakeholders from Odisha’s startup and innovation ecosystem.
Minister Mallik called upon students and youth to pursue their unique interests and passions, assuring that the Odisha Government would facilitate aspiring innovators in creating meaningful solutions. He emphasised the need to promote incubation and nurture more ideas, enabling youth to move from job seekers to job creators.
Minister Swain said, “The success of development becomes truly meaningful only when the life of a common citizen becomes easier. This ideology forms the foundational basis of OSFIC. Service shall be our resolve. Innovation shall be our strength. Skill excellence shall be our identity. A prosperous Odisha shall be our goal.”
Science & Technology Minister said that the Department had prepared a blueprint for development in areas such as biotechnology and AI through a special Odisha Innovation Mission.
Former Rajya Samba member Dr. Amar Patnaik, Startup Odisha Chief Executive Officer Smruti Ranjan Pradhan, MSME Secretary and Startup Chairperson Rashmita Panda outlined the strategic vision behind OSFIC and its potential to strengthen Odisha’s position as a leading startup and innovation hub.
The event also featured the unveiling of the official OSFIC web portal. Startup Odisha signed strategic MoUs with AIIMS Bhubaneswar, World Skill Centre and ASSOCHAM, and distributed One-time Capital Grants to leading incubators—ACURATE, NIST, CIPET and SOA.
The Odisha Seva First Innovation Challenge is designed to encourage the development of scalable, service-oriented innovations that address real-world challenges while contributing to the socio-economic development of the state.
Designed as a statewide launchpad for innovation and creativity, OSFIC aims to engage over one lakh participants across three categories, Students, Youth and Grassroots Innovation Talents, and provide them with a platform to transform ideas into actionable solutions.
Students from schools, universities and technical institutions, along with startups and MSMEs, artisans and farmers, women SHGs, senior citizens, NCC and NSS units, and other eligible participants can take part in the challenge and contribute to Odisha’s development journey. Interested participants can register for the challenge at osfis.startupodisha.org/register.
The initiative will provide a statewide platform for identifying and nurturing promising ideas, culminating in a grand finale with financial rewards for the winners.
