Home » State News » Odisha CM Launches Odisha Marine Biotechnology Research & Innovation Corridor

Odisha CM Launches Odisha Marine Biotechnology Research & Innovation Corridor

Bhubaneswar:12/8/25: In a landmark move to position Odisha as a global leader in marine biotechnology and the Blue Economy, Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi today launched the Odisha Marine Biotechnology Research & Innovation Corridor (OMBRIC).

Spearheaded by the Science & Technology Department, this initiative aims to transform Odisha’s 574 km coastline into a hub of innovation, sustainability, and economic growth.

OMBRIC is envisioned as a dynamic platform for young entrepreneurs to build marine biotech startups rooted in local resources and aligned with global standards. The corridor will catalyse research, innovation, and commercialisation across key domains such as gene discovery, bioremediation, nutraceuticals, and sustainable aquaculture.

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Strategic Collaborations

An MoU was signed between the Odisha Government and the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Ministry of Earth Sciences, alongside six premier institutions in Odisha:

  • IIT Bhubaneswar – Coastal ecosystem mapping and capacity building
  • NIT Rourkela – Marine microorganism cultivation and bioactive compound extraction
  • IISER Berhampur – Gene discovery and product upscaling
  • ILS Bhubaneswar – Marine microbial biorepository and innovation support
  • Berhampur University – Biodiversity mapping and metabolite profiling
  • Fakir Mohan University – Breeding technology for Indian horseshoe crabs
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Vision for Viksit Odisha 2036

Speaking at Lok Seva Bhawan, the CM emphasised that OMBRIC is not just a research initiative but a transformative platform connecting “lab to land” and “research to real-world impact.” He asserted Odisha’s evolution from a coastal state to a coastal innovator, investing in nature-based solutions and responsible biodiversity utilisation.

Science & Technology Minister Shri Krushna Chandra Patra called OMBRIC a blueprint for a prosperous future, while Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja and Principal Secretary Smt. Chithra Arumugam reiterated the state’s commitment to marine innovation.

Community-Centric Innovation

OMBRIC also prioritizes community engagement through training, education, and participatory conservation. By involving coastal populations, the initiative aims to foster marine stewardship and improve livelihoods, ensuring inclusive growth.

With its strategic alliances, cutting-edge research, and entrepreneurial focus, OMBRIC is set to redefine Odisha’s coastal identity and contribute significantly to India’s blue economy ambitions.

About Editor in chief

Ashok Palit has completed his graduation from Upendranath College Soro, Balasore and post graduation from Utkal University in Odia Language and literture.. He has also carved out a niche for himself as a scribe of eminence after joining the profession in 1988. He is also an independent media production professional. He brings loads of experience to Advanced Media, Ashok Palit as a cineaste has been active in film criticism for over three decades. As a film society activist, he soared to eminence for his profound commitment to the art film appreciation and aesthetics of cinema. His mode of discourse is often erudite but always lucid and comprehensible marked by a perfect acumen so rare in the field. A film aesthete with an immense fond of critical sensibilities, he wrote about growth and development of odia cinema in New Indian Express, The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, The Asian Age and Screen. He has been working as an Editor for Cine Samaya from 2002-2004.. He had made solid contribution on cinema in many odia Dailies and weekly such as Samaj, Prajatantra, Dharatri, Samaya, Satabadi, and weekly Samaya.
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