The KISS Science and Technology Innovation (STI) Hub for Tribals at KISS Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, hosted the visit of Dr. Anita Aggarwal, Scientist ‘F’ and Head of the SEED Division at the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India on 21st August 2026. Supported by implementing partners KISS and KIIT-TBI, the event highlighted the STI hub’s ongoing efforts to leverage science, technology, and innovation for the socio-economic upliftment of tribal communities.
The visit featured the official inauguration of three state-of-the-art facilities designed to enhance the STI hub’s technical and educational capacity. Dr. Aggarwal unveiled the Fabrication Lab for Prototyping, the Bioanalytical Lab for Advanced Research, and a dedicated Training Centre for Capacity Building. Following the tour, senior leadership including Hon’ble, Vice Chancellor, KIIT & KISS Prof. (Dr.) Saranjit Singh; Dr. Mrutyunjay Suar, Director General R&D and Innovation, KIIT-TBI; Dr. Prashanta Kumar Routray, Registrar, KISS-DU; and Dr. Namrata Misra, CEO-BCKIC; Advisor-KIIT-TBI formally welcomed Dr. Aggarwal.
Emphasizing the transformative power of local initiative, the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor encouraged innovation within the tribal community and urged research scholars to actively pursue entrepreneurship. Building on this vision, Dr. Aggarwal detailed the core aims and scope of the STI Hub, highlighting how the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, designs these programs to promote research, build institutional capacity, empower youths from tribal communities, and drive sustainable socio-economic development. Aligning with these goals, the Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Rashmi Mohapatra and Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) Dr. Snigdharani Panda presented the project’s key milestones and future roadmap for STI hub.
A major highlight of the day was the interaction between Dr. Aggarwal and the project beneficiaries. Tribal entrepreneurs shared their firsthand experiences, pitched innovative ideas, and demonstrated the transformative impact of the STI hub’s initiatives. Productive strategic deliberations followed, focusing on scaling community impact, expanding collaboration, and ensuring long-term sustainability.
The successful event concluded with a Vote of Thanks from Dr. Snigdharani Panda, expressing deep gratitude to the Head of the SEED Division at the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, KISS STI Hub reaffirms its commitment to serving as a platform for inclusive innovation, technology transfer, skill development, and sustainable tribal empowerment. Dr. Panda highlighted that this day also holds relevance as 21st August is also observed as World Entrepreneurs’ Day. She added that initiatives like these are a testament to KISS-DU’s commitment and dedication to honing the skills of indigenous students and making them self-reliant, thereby collectively contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat. This event honoured the guiding vision of Prof. (Dr.) Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT, KIMS, and KISS, alongside the dedicated efforts of the leadership, project team, and participants who made the day a resounding success.
