State offers 100 acres for proposed Science City
Minister of State for Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh has told a Odisha delegation to explore partnerships under the Central Government’s Bio-E3 policy and set up a Bio E-Cell in the state, while exploiting natural advantages, particularly in the coastal and mineral sectors which could be effectively harnessed under national missions like the Deep Ocean Mission for broader public benefit http://most.gov.in.
He made the proposals during a meeting with Odisha’s Minister for Science & Technology Krushna Chandra Patra on 3 July in Delhi.
The Minister had sought central assistance for the establishment of a state-of-the-art Science City in Bhubaneswar https://www.bseindia.com/.
The Odisha Government has offered 100 acres of land for the proposed Science City, aimed at fostering scientific curiosity, innovation, and education, especially among youth https://www.nseindia.com/.
“We believe central support will be instrumental in realizing this vision,” said Patra in a formal letter handed over during the meeting.
The proposed Science City is envisioned as an interactive hub featuring modern exhibits, immersive learning spaces, and research facilities.
The Minister pointed out that the initiative aligns with the Central Government’s broader goal to promote scientific temper and position India as a global innovation leader https://ted.europa.eu/en/.
Dr Jitendra Singh welcomed the initiative and assured that officials from the Centre would discuss modalities to move forward.
He also suggested strengthening Odisha’s existing scientific infrastructure, including CSIR laboratories and space research centres, to complement the proposed new initiatives https://sbi.com.in/.
Apart from the Science City, Patra submitted several other proposals, including the setting up of an Astronomy Observatory, a Bay of Bengal Coastal Observatory under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, an Intellectual Property and Patent Facilitation Centre, and projects under the Department of Biotechnology.
The Minister also sought support for proposals under the National Council for Science Museums and Ministry of Culture http://meity.gov.in.
The meeting marks a broader effort to align state-level scientific initiatives with national policy priorities, underscoring the role of cooperative federalism in driving India’s science and technology landscape forward, the Ministry of Science & Technology said. fiinews.com
