17th OITF 2026: DRIVING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, INSPIRING TRANSFORMATIVE IDEAS

The 17th edition of the Odisha Information Technology Fair (OITF) concluded on a high note, drawing a diverse cross-section of industry participants. Marking the seventeenth year, the IT event that takes place in Bhubaneswar annually is deeply acknowledged by the industry for setting the benchmark on holding cutting-edge discussions on technology trends and innovations.

Aligning with its tradition of fostering key partnerships and inspiring transformative ideas, this year’s event successfully blended the latest in tech developments with an engaging atmosphere while keeping the attendees informed and giving the opportunity for networking.

The theme of this years’ event was "Driving Growth with Innovation & Transparency” and was dedicated to the CIOs and VARS of the Indian ICT Industry. The event was supported by OCAC, ESC, FAIITA and ITAO who have extended their support to the event.

The event kick-started with the auspicious lamp lighting ceremony, and was graced by the presence of honourable guests like Prof. Arun Kumar Rath, Chairman, Centre of Corporate Governance & CSR IIM Nagpur; Prof. Debi Prasanna Pattanayak, Chancellor- Centurion University; Dr. Arindam Sarkar, Head of the Dept. of C.S. & E - Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira, Belur Math, Kolkata & Chief Architect - FaceOff Technologies Inc.; Achimuthu Pandiarajan, System Engineer – Commscope; Rabi Narayan Behera, Member of Parliament, Govt. Of India; Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, Publisher, VARINDIA and S Mohini Ratna, Editor – VARINDIA.

Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, Publisher, VARINDIA presented the welcome address in which underlined how Bhubaneswar has become a hotbed for emerging technologies and has the opportunity to become a global technology back office and a future R&D hub for multinational companies. “Odisha has witnessed strong growth in IT exports, with around 93 companies now exporting software and electronics, up from just 17 in 2023. The startup ecosystem is also gaining momentum. Of the nearly 3,000 startups registered in the state, about 5% are already on a profitable and growth-oriented trajectory, highlighting the maturing innovation landscape.”

The event then featured insightful presentations, starting with Prof. Arun Kumar Rath, Chairman, Centre of Corporate Governance & CSR IIM Nagpur, who shared his invaluable perspectives before the audience, drawn from his distinguished service and academic leadership.

Prof. Debi Prasanna Pattanayak, Chancellor- Centurion University presented his inspiring insights and thanked VARINDIA for recognizing and felicitating the iconic personalities of Odisha in the Jewels of Odisha coffee table book.

Dr. Arindam Sarkar, Head of the Dept. of C.S. & E - Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira, Belur Math, Kolkata & Chief Architect - FaceOff Technologies addressed the audience on the topic – ‘Privacy- First Quantum Safe AI for Trusted Digital Growth’, giving everyone a glimpse of how the FaceOff technology works.

Achimuthu Pandiarajan, System Engineer – Commscope gave his presentation and shared his valuable expertise on digital infrastructure and connectivity, which added strong technical depth and relevance to the event.

In his keynote address, Rabi Narayan Behera, Member of Parliament, Govt. of India presented his visionary insights, highlighting the government’s unwavering commitment to inclusive development and nation-building.

OITF 2026 witnessed the launch of the Fourth edition of Jewels of Odisha, a prestigious coffee-table book celebrating eminent personalities who have brought pride to the state and made significant contributions to shaping modern India. This year’s book featured leaders and innovators from various industries, and celebrated their significant contributions in their respective sectors, thus showcasing Odisha’s growing influence on India’s development.

THE EVENT ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO FELICITATE A FEW OF THE PERSONALITIES WHO WERE PRESENT DURING THE EVENT.

The event concluded with a prestigious awards ceremony honoring the winners of the 16th VARINDIA IT Cup 2026 held in Bhubaneswar. Beyond sports, the tournament celebrates teamwork, resilience, and community spirit, creating a collaborative platform that blends competition with camaraderie to build lasting relationships and unlock hidden potential.

This time 12 Corporates participated in the tournament - Innovare Cloud, Esquire, CSM Technologies, Startek, Curebay, Wipro, Nisum Technologies, E & IT Dept., Govt. of Odisha, Polosoft, Incture, TCS and ESSPL.

OITF 2026 announced the winners of the IT Cup. The Man of the Series trophy was awarded to Abhishek Sahu of Innovare Cloud. While the winner of the 16th VARINDIA IT Cup 2026 was TCS, Innovare Cloud was named the Runners up team of the tournament.

The 17th OITF proved to be a resounding success, both in the quality of its content and in celebrating the state’s contributions. Moving forward, VARINDIA remains committed to sustaining this legacy by providing a platform where industry professionals can stay abreast of emerging trends, exchange insights, and connect with peers.

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Reviving Odisha’s ancient knowledge through technology is key to India’s future

DR. RABINDRA NARAYAN BEHERA
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, GOVT. OF INDIA

“Odisha stands as one of India’s most profound civilisational and knowledge centres, and the revival of its ancient wisdom through modern technology is vital to shaping the nation’s future. Initiatives such as the Jewels of Odisha coffee table book play an important role in identifying, recognising, and celebrating individuals who reflect the state’s intellectual, cultural, and global contributions. Odisha has historically been a land of learning, spirituality, and international engagement, particularly through its central role in the spread of Buddhism and its strong maritime traditions. Long before the advent of computers, satellites, or digital tools, our ancestors demonstrated advanced scientific understanding, navigational expertise, and philosophical depth, enabling cultural exchange across Asia and establishing Odisha’s global relevance.

Over the years, however, colonial-era education systems weakened India’s indigenous knowledge frameworks by eroding traditional learning, cultural confidence, and intellectual self-reliance. Despite being among the most literate societies historically, India witnessed a significant decline in knowledge continuity during this period. Yet, vast repositories of wisdom still exist in palm-leaf manuscripts, temple architecture, Buddhist texts, language systems, and ancient scientific practices. While efforts are underway to digitise these resources, digitisation alone is not sufficient. What is urgently required is deeper research, contextual interpretation, and meaningful global dissemination, especially at a time when artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies are reshaping how knowledge is preserved, accessed, and applied.

As India progresses towards long-term national and state development milestones such as Vikshit Bharat by 2047 and Vikshit Odisha by 2036, the responsibility of this transformation rests largely with the digitally native younger generation. Odisha’s future opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, semiconductors, quantum computing, inland waterways, maritime trade, and the blue economy are natural extensions of its historical strengths. The state’s evolution from early digital governance challenges to becoming a potential hub for advanced technologies reflects its readiness for the next phase of growth. By integrating ancient wisdom with contemporary innovation, Odisha can re-emerge as a leading knowledge and technology hub for eastern India and beyond, restoring pride, purpose, and global recognition to its enduring civilisational legacy. This collective effort demands collaboration among government, academia, industry, and society to ensure heritage-driven innovation delivers inclusive growth, strategic autonomy, and sustained global leadership for future generations’ worldwide impact.”

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Odisha has enormous potential to become a global tech and R&D hub

DR. DEEPAK KUMAR SAHU
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, VARINDIA

“Bhubaneswar has emerged as a hotbed for emerging technologies and holds strong potential to evolve into a global technology back office and a future R&D hub for multinational companies. This outlook is supported by recent trends. Odisha has witnessed strong growth in IT exports, with nearly 93 companies now exporting software and electronics, compared to just 17 in 2023. The startup ecosystem is also gaining momentum. Of the nearly 3,000 startups registered in the state, around five percent are already on a profitable and growth-oriented trajectory, highlighting a maturing innovation landscape. These indicators suggest that Odisha is well positioned to emerge as a key growth destination in India’s digital economy.

This is the right time for the state to introduce a progressive and GCC-friendly policy framework. With coordinated efforts from the government, policymakers, industry bodies, and the media, Odisha can position itself as a preferred destination for global companies to establish and scale operations. One important recommendation is the creation of a full-stack Sovereign Artificial Intelligence Park, supported by state-led investments in AI infrastructure. Such an initiative can attract enterprises to set up AI labs and innovation centres in the state. With global AI spending projected to cross USD 512 billion by 2027 and 76 percent of Indian enterprises already piloting or planning GenAI investments, AI has become the primary catalyst for innovation and competitiveness. Future digital businesses will be inherently AI-driven, reshaping technology investment priorities across sectors.

At the same time, AI is transforming the threat landscape around digital identity, security, and trust. As cyberattacks become more sophisticated, stolen credentials, outdated authentication, and AI-driven phishing have emerged as major vulnerabilities. Fraud has evolved beyond fake identities into synthetic businesses created using AI and forged data. By 2026, identity security will reach a tipping point as AI-powered emails, calls, and messages closely mimic human intent, making passwords and OTPs increasingly ineffective. In parallel, commerce is shifting towards an agentic model where autonomous AI agents plan, negotiate, and transact on users’ behalf, unlocking significant economic opportunity. Through platforms such as VARINDIA, Jewels of Odisha, and research-driven initiatives like FaceOff, the focus remains on strengthening digital trust, combating deepfakes, and promoting responsible AI adoption as AI, GenAI, and quantum technologies increasingly move from assisting human decisions to executing them.”

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Innovation has become critical for the growth of the Indian economy today

PROF. ARUN KUMAR RATH
CHAIRMAN, CENTRE OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE & CSR IIM NAGPUR

“With the 17th OITF, VARINDIA has gone beyond the conventional boundaries of social responsibility and industry discourse by honoring the 50 Jewels of India. This initiative is a matter of pride, as it reflects the team’s willingness to step beyond its core domain into a space few choose to explore. Looking ahead, two milestone years stand before us—2036, marking 100 years of Odisha as a separate state, and 2047, when Bharat will celebrate a century of independence. These moments compel us to reflect on what we have achieved over the past hundred years—achievements that would make our forefathers proud—and to ask what meaningful contributions we will make as responsible citizens of the nation. If we find ourselves lacking answers, now is the time to introspect, realign, and act with purpose, evaluating where we stand and the direction we are heading.

Equally important is innovation, which lies at the heart of growth. Without innovation, progress stagnates. History reminds us that the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century transformed societies and economies, enabling nations to prosper—and innovation was the driving force behind that transformation. Today, we must once again ask ourselves whether we are innovating enough to sustain growth. Innovation fuels new engineering capabilities, entrepreneurial spirit, and ultimately, the overall development of the nation.”

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It is important to reflect the true purpose of growth when India becomes the 3rd largest economy

PROF. DEBI PRASANNA PATTANAYAK
CHANCELLOR- CENTURION UNIVERSITY

“I extend my congratulations to VARINDIA for successfully carrying forward this initiative for the past 17 years. Equally commendable is their vision and commitment to recognizing and honoring individuals from Odisha who have made significant contributions to nation-building. These individuals stand at the core of progress, and I applaud each of them for their valuable contributions to the state. Odisha is exceptionally rich in culture, traditions, music, and art. However, from an economic standpoint, the state still faces challenges. While India aspires to become the world’s third-largest economy in the next three to four years, it is important to reflect on the true purpose of this growth if a majority of the wealth remains concentrated among a small segment of the population. The greater challenge before us is to ensure that economic growth is inclusive—so that prosperity reaches not just the nation as a whole, but every citizen. For a state like Odisha to truly prosper, the development of skilled talent and innovation is essential. Equally critical is access to financial resources to fuel this innovation. Transforming ideas into reality requires adequate funding and economic support, and in the long run, this will validate the priorities and choices we make today.”

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Digital transformation has become the backbone of business growth

ACHIMUTHU PANDIARAJAN
SYSTEM ENGINEER – COMMSCOPE

“Digital transformation has become the backbone of business growth. With the increase in the number of users, and the number of applications, the network is no longer a support function. The network is playing an increasingly important role as data is being secured and centralized and IT & facilities are being converged. Wired and wireless options are also growing. The network therefore is becoming a business enabler. With more than 40+ years of experience in the area of manufacturing networking infrastructure solutions, CommScope is pushing the boundaries of technology to create the world’s most advanced wired and wireless networks. Our global team of employees, innovators and technologists empower customers to anticipate what’s next and invent what’s possible. As businesses adopt cloud, AI-driven operations, IoT ecosystems, and high-speed network solutions, the demand for secure, scalable, and resilient digital infrastructure is accelerating. CommScope is helping organizations modernize networks, enhance performance, and build future-ready digital environments. In India, CommScope has its manufacturing facility in Goa, aligning itself with the idea of Make in India.

In terms of deploying our solutions, CommScope provided the critical infrastructure copper and fibre cabling for India's new Parliament building in New Delhi. This contribution is part of the high-tech, modern connectivity solutions installed to ensure secure and efficient communication within the new legislative complex. We have also delivered solutions for large data centers here in India. CommScope's high- performance fiber and copper cabling solutions are also commonly utilized in advanced, mission-critical, secure data center infrastructures like the Odisha State Data Centre."

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FACEOFF leads the way in privacy-first quantum-safe AI for trusted digital growth

DR. ARINDAM SARKAR
CHIEF ARCHITECT, FACEOFF TECHNOLOGIES INC.

“At FACEOFF Technologies, we are committed to pioneering privacy-first, quantum-safe AI for trusted digital growth. As enterprises across sectors—education, healthcare, finance, and technology—eagerly adopt AI, studies show that 95% of AI initiatives fail to deliver intended results. This highlights the crucial challenge of designing AI algorithms that are not only intelligent but secure, compliant, and ethical from inception. FACEOFF was built with this principle at its core. Our platform collects only the data essential for digital identity authentication, stress analysis, fraud detection, and behavioral evaluation, including facial expressions, eye movement, posture, heart rate, and oxygen saturation—all while maintaining compliance with global regulations such as the DPDP Act and GDPR.

Our solutions integrate multiple innovations, including the Adaptive Cognitive Engine, which dynamically selects encryption algorithms based on device resources and threat scenarios, providing quantum-safe protection in anticipation of the next generation of computing. FACEOFF offers advanced authentication methods, from passwordless access using face and behavioral biometrics to trusted QR codes, document verification systems, and deepfake detection, all powered by multimodal AI analyzing facial cues, voice patterns, and physiological signals. Our AI is fully explainable and adaptive, delivering repeatable and transparent results while continuously self- correcting. Humans remain central to the loop, verifying and cross-checking decisions, ensuring robust detection of fraud, secure identity verification, and reliable decision-making across all applications.

Additionally, FACEOFF emphasizes privacy-preserving frameworks, including federated learning and attribute-based data sharing, securing personal information on users’ devices while enabling actionable AI insights. By combining quantum-safe encryption, explainable AI, adaptive learning, and privacy-first design, our technologies allow organizations to confidently deploy AI, prevent misuse of sensitive data, and comply with evolving regulatory requirements. Across financial services, healthcare, education, and beyond, FACEOFF empowers enterprises to manage digital identities, detect fraud, and safeguard critical information. In essence, we are creating a new paradigm where innovation, trust, security, and privacy converge, enabling enterprises to achieve meaningful digital growth while protecting individual data in an AI-first, quantum-ready world—a world where privacy and trust are not optional, but foundational.”

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