IIT Bhubaneswar marks its 18th anniversary of excellence
Bhubaneswar, : Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar has celebrated its 18th Foundation Day on 12th February 2026. Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Hon’ble Minister, E&IT, Health & Family Welfare, and Parliamentary Affairs, Govt. of Odisha, graced the occasion as Chief Guest, while Shri Saroj Patnaik, Chairman, Patnaik Group of Industries and Trustee, Rabisons Foundation, was the Guest of Honour.
Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble MinisterDr. Mukesh Mahaling, lauded that “IIT Bhubaneswar is deeply involved in high-end research, innovation, and exchange of ideas with industry, and is now moving decisively towards becoming a Power Semiconductor Hub. With Odisha selected as a Semiconductor Hub, major projects including a SicSem Semiconductor Unit, SDM Park, and Namo Semiconductor Lab, are strengthening academia–industry collaboration. Alongside, focused investments in Artificial Intelligence, data centres, and GPUs will position Odisha as a leading technology and innovation ecosystem, contributing to a self-reliant India and the vision of a developed India by 2047.”
Addressing the gathering, Shri Saroj Patnaik said: “Technology is rapidly transforming society, from healthcare to energy, and institutions like IIT Bhubaneswar are at the forefront of this change. While AI and automation are redefining jobs, they are also creating new opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation. I encourage students to leverage IIT Bhubaneswar’s research ecosystem, take informed risks, and build solutions that drive India’s industrial and social progress.”
At the outset, Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar, delivered the welcome address. He briefly traced the birth of the Institute and the history of the IIT Bhubaneswar campus. “IIT Bhubaneswar has evolved into a vibrant campus centred on learning halls, advanced research, and innovation-driven education. The research and entrepreneurship park being constructed by IIT Bhubaneswar in the third phase and Odisha Government’s 223-acre semiconductor and electronic system design manufacturing park slated to come up next to the campus will strengthen industry–academia collaboration significantly and contribute meaningfully to the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision,” he said. He also thanked Shri Saroj Patnaik for his transformative donation of Rs. 25 crore to the institution, to promote the use of AI, HPC, and other technologies for the benefit of people, and to provide scholarships to meritorious underprivileged students.
During the occasion, Hon’ble Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling visited various key Research & Development facilities of the Institute, including Research & Entrepreneurship Park, Silicon Carbide Research and Innovation Center (SiCRIC), Virtual and Augmented Reality Center of Excellence (VARCoE), Robotics Labs, and Active Learning Classrooms.
Prof. Rajesh Roshan Dash, Dean (Student Affairs), proposed a vote of thanks. Shri Bamadev Acharya, Registrar of the Institute, was also present on the occasion.
In the evening, a grand cultural programme by the students and members of the institute was organized, which showcased the spirit of enthusiasm and vigour.
