New Delhi, August 12: Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Minister of State for Science and Technology, presented an integrated roadmap on Tuesday. This roadmap links the central government‘s proposal for a ‘Rare Earth Corridor’ with the state’s rich marine and coastal resources, biotechnology ecosystem, space capabilities, and a network of scientific institutions.
According to an official statement, the meeting finalized the expansion of the ‘Institute of Life Sciences’ located in Bhubaneswar, with an additional 50 acres of land provided by the Odisha state government.
The enhanced capacity of the institute could serve as a robust foundation for research in life sciences and biotechnology, as well as initiatives related to the Bio-E3 framework (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment).
Dr. Singh emphasized that the eastern coastal region could play a significant role in India’s emerging nuclear and maritime roadmap, with Odisha well-positioned to contribute through coordinated efforts of central scientific institutions and the state government.
This approach aims to move beyond isolated initiatives by fostering a connected ecosystem that includes marine resources, critical minerals, life sciences, space technology, and technology-driven economic development.
Dr. Singh was discussing the roadmap with Odisha’s Minister of Science and Technology, Krishna Chandra Patra, who presented several proposals related to the state’s science and technology priorities.
Topics discussed included the expansion of marine biotechnology, strengthening infrastructure for life sciences, better utilization of Odisha’s coastal and mineral resources, space applications and manufacturing, exploration of rare earth minerals, scientific infrastructure, and the participation of coastal districts in national marine-environment initiatives.
The discussions also covered the Odisha Marine Biotechnology Research and Innovation Corridor (OMBIRIC), which is being developed as a collaborative platform bringing together the state’s leading academic and research institutions.
The statement noted that OMBIRIC 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 proposed synergy between marine biotechnology and earth sciences aims to enhance the scientific understanding and sustainable use of Odisha’s coastal resources.
This approach will integrate expertise in marine science, earth sciences, biotechnology, and mineral-resource research, creating more opportunities for joint projects and technology development.
The meeting also considered connecting the state’s space capabilities with ISRO, including the possibility of developing a space research and manufacturing center in a PPP mode. The ministry stated that such an ecosystem could bring together government institutions, national space agencies, research organizations, and industry.
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