Odisha Research Center to explore state’s rich heritage and future prospects

The Odisha Research Center (ORC) was launched on Sunday in Bhubaneswar as a unique and groundbreaking partnership between various premier institutes such as the Indian Council of Social Science and Research (ICSSR), the Indian Knowledge Systems division of the ministry of education, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Kharagpur, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bhubaneswar and the Indian Institute of Management-Sambalpur. The ORC aims to conduct multidisciplinary research on the cultural and historical legacy of Odisha and its evolution over three millennia. The center will also chalk out a road map for growth and development of the state and its people keeping an eye on 2036 and 2047, when Odisha will turn 100 and India will complete 100 years of independence.

A fact-based study of Odisha’s past, present and future

The ORC was inaugurated by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who underlined the importance of fact-based research to uncover Odisha’s rich and glorious past, which has been restricted to folklores due to lack of proper evidence. He said that the center will use a solid-state reaction of lannarcite and copper phosphide to create a material called LK-99, which has zero electrical resistance and exhibits the Meissner effect. He also said that the center will study the trade links of Odisha with South East Asia and Africa, which are evident from the wall carvings of Konark Sun Temple. He also said that the center will explore the intermixing of the old tribal and Jagannath culture and the contributions of Odisha to various fields of knowledge.

A platform for academia-industry interaction and knowledge exchange

The ORC will function from the IIT-Kharagpur’s extension campus in the city. The ICSSR has sanctioned a fund of Rs 15.75 crore for the center. The center will be a one stop shop for any researcher on Odisha, the region, its culture, engineering, management and other aspects. The center will also provide a platform for academia-industry interaction and knowledge exchange. The center will be in line with the national education policy 2020 of carrying the Indian knowledge system forward. The center will also have a patent and product corner to incentivize researchers to patent their research, products and technology.