Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has called upon investors in the semiconductor sector to capitalize on the potential and cost advantages offered by Odisha, with the aim of establishing a semiconductor ecosystem in the state.
During his address at Odisha4Silicon-2023, the Chief Minister emphasized that the state government has undertaken significant initiatives to lay a solid foundation for Odisha to become a key player in the semiconductor industry and turn this vision into reality.
He highlighted the recently introduced Semiconductor Manufacturing and Fabless Policy 2023, along with the Odisha Semiconductor Fab and Fabless Innovation and Acceleration Programme (O-Chip), as instrumental in catalyzing the growth of the semiconductor ecosystem within the state. Naveen Patnaik pointed out that the program would provide valuable support to startups, MSMEs, academic institutions, institutional researchers, and students. It includes access to electronic design automation (EDA) tools and an intellectual property (IP) repository, seed funding, research grants, market access, mentorship, and infrastructure support.
During the event, three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed. The India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) will play a key role in enhancing the state’s semiconductor ecosystem by promoting capacity building and organizing relevant events and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Additionally, a collaboration with the global semiconductor giant Synopsys will encompass various aspects of the O-Chip program, talent development, workforce readiness assessments, and support for internships and placements for engineering students.
Similarly, the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) will actively promote exports in the Electronics and IT/ITeS sectors. ESC will be provided with dedicated office space to establish its presence in Odisha. Notable figures such as Minister for Electronics and IT Tusharkanti Behera, Chief Secretary PK Jena, and principal secretaries Manoj Kumar Mishra and Usha Padhee also shared their insights during the event.
Source: New Indian Express