EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION, ODIAPRENEUR, ODISHA’S LARGEST HACKATHON, READY TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN STUDENTS
With 3,000 Students and 900+ Ideas, shaping the future of tomorrow
Bhubaneswar, 29th November 2025: In a bid to foster innovation and entrepreneurial thinking among the youth, the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education, School and Mass Education Department, Government of Odisha, and IIT Bhubaneswar, Research & Entrepreneurship Park organising a state-level Hackathon, Odiapreneur for higher secondary students. The event aimed to provide a platform for students to showcase their creative solutions to real-world problems and promote technology-oriented innovation.
The event was graced by the presence of Smt. Niyati Pattnaik, IAS, Director of the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education (DHSE), Odisha, Smt. Smita Rout, IAS, State Project Director, OAVS, Smt. Lalita Patnaik, Education Specialist, UNICEF Odisha, Dr. Naresh Chandra Sahu, Associate Professor, IIT Bhubaneswar.
The Hackathon, scheduled to take place in December 2025 and January 2026, is looking forward to seeing positive participation from over 3,000 students and more than 900 ideas from across Odisha. The event is supported by UNICEF and industry mentors who will provide guidance and support to the participants.
Discussing about the project Smt. Niyati Pattnaik, IAS, Director of the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education (DHSE), Odisha said, As Odiapreneur, Smart Odisha Hackathon ’3.0 targets to bring out the best innovative ideas from young minds, it is expected to not only foster a culture of innovation but also provide a platform for students to interact with industry experts and learn from their experiences.
Smt. Lalita Patnaik, Education Specialist, UNICEF Odisha, speaking at the event, said, “We are excited to partner with IIT Bhubaneswar to host this innovative Hackathon, which will provide our students with a unique opportunity to think creatively and develop solutions to real-world problems.”
The Hackathon will kick off with registrations across 30 districts of Odisha, covering around 1,500 Higher Secondary Schools. With an expectation to receive 3,000 innovative ideas, the initiative will culminate in 30 district-level Hackathons, where top 3 teams from each district will qualify for the state-level Hackathon. The final showcase will be held at the IIT Bhubaneswar campus, with the IIT Bhubaneswar Research and Entrepreneurship Park playing a pivotal role in providing technological support and execution expertise. Students will be rewarded with cash awards at both district and state levels, recognizing their innovative solutions and entrepreneurial spirit.
The Smart Odisha Hackathon’ ’3.0 aims to focus on themes such as agriculture, healthcare, renewable energy, and waste management, with a special emphasis on Odisha-specific challenges and global trends.
“IIT Bhubaneswar is thrilled to collaborate with the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education to empower the next generation of innovators in Odisha. This Hackathon will provide a platform for students to showcase their talent, creativity, and problem-solving skills, and we look forward to mentoring and guiding them towards excellence,”said Dr. Naresh Chandra Sahu, Associate Professor, IIT Bhubaneswar.
A two-tier approach has been planned, with school- and district-level competitions culminating in a state-level event.
