Gunupur, Rayagada: The Rayagada Edition of the TEJAS Programme was formally inaugurated at Gunupur with the participation of senior government officials, academic leaders, industry representatives and entrepreneurship ecosystem stakeholders.
The inaugural programme was attended by Dudhal Abhishek Dilip, IAS, Sub-Collector, Gunupur; Smruti Ranjan Pradhan, IAS, CEO, Startup Odisha; Prof. Goutam Ghosh, Vice-Chancellor, GIET University; Prof. (Dr.) Chandra Dhwaj Panda, Vice-President, GIET University; Dr. Bijay Kumar Sahu, Senior Regional Manager & Head (Outreach Office), NRDC, Government of India; Dr. Soobhankar Pati, CEO, IIT-REP; Dr. Sachikanta Kar, Advisor, World Skill Center; Biswashis Gantayet, Business Head, HCLTech; Ravindra Yadav, CEO, ACIC GIETU; and Durga Prasad Gouda, CEO, AIC-NIT Foundation.
The flagship initiative is being implemented under the aegis of the DPIIT TEJAS initiative in collaboration with ACIC GIET University Foundation, Gunupur, Rayagada. The programme aims to create a stronger ecosystem for entrepreneurship, innovation and enterprise development at the grassroots level, particularly by enabling aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators to access mentorship, institutional support and opportunities.
The initiative seeks to encourage young innovators to transform local ideas and challenges into sustainable entrepreneurial solutions. It also aims to strengthen linkages among government institutions, academia, industry, incubators and emerging entrepreneurs.
The launch of the Rayagada edition marks an important step towards taking innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives beyond major urban centres and creating opportunities for youth in Odisha’s emerging districts.
The programme is aligned with the broader vision of the Government of India for Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat@2047, while complementing Odisha’s growing startup and innovation ecosystem.
With collaboration among DPIIT, Startup Odisha, ACIC GIET University Foundation, NRDC, IIT Bhubaneswar Research and Entrepreneurship Park, HCLTech and other ecosystem partners, the TEJAS Programme is expected to provide a platform for nurturing grassroots innovations and promoting inclusive entrepreneurship in the region.
