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 As cyberattacks become more sophisticated, stolen credentials, outdated authentication, and AI-driven phishing have emerged as major vulnerabilities.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.”