National Institute of Technology Rourkela

21/05/2026

Foundation for Technology and Business Incubation - FTBI at NIT Rourkela Marks 10 Years of Supporting Startups, Innovation and Employment Generation!

FTBI marked its '10th Foundation Day' on 20.05.2026 by organising a celebratory event at the FTBI premises and commemorating a decade of FTBI’s contribution to innovation-driven entrepreneurship and impactful incubation support in emerging technology and business domains since its inception in 2016.

Shri Keshav Rao, Director (HR), Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), attended the programme as the Chief Guest. Dr. Chandan Bansal, MD, Medicine & Diabetologist and Managing Director of JP Hospital, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour.

On this occasion, Prof. Subrata Kumar Panda (President, FTBI) noted that FTBI has incubated over 110 startups, comprising 85 male-led and 25 female-led ventures, with three startups achieving valuations exceeding ₹100 crore. He also informed that FTBI's incubated startups have filed more than 30 patents, including 12 granted patents, and have generated nearly 700–1000 direct and indirect employment opportunities in the region.

During the event, FTBI, NIT Rourkela signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jaiprakash Hospital and Research Centre, Rourkela, to strengthen collaboration in healthcare innovation, medical technology and biotechnology research.

Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director, NIT Rourkela, congratulated the FTBI team on completing a decade of impactful work and urged young entrepreneurs to focus on solving real-world challenges. He also extended special thanks to Mahanadi Coalfields Limited for funding 30 incubated startups at FTBI over the years. He also appreciated JP Hospital management for extending its partnership with NIT Rourkela.

Mr Chiranjib Samal (CEO, FTBI) thanked the supporting organisations and stakeholders, including DST, MeitY, Startup Odisha, Startup India, MCL SAIL, GAIL, TEXMIN ISM Dhanbad, MSME, investors, collaborators, regional media, FTBI members, faculty, staff, students, and alumni of NIT Rourkela for their support.

The event also provided a platform for incubated startups to showcase their innovative products, technologies and entrepreneurial achievements developed under FTBI’s guidance and support. The event concluded with networking interactions among startups, industry representatives, faculty members and guests. Prof. Winny Routray hosted the event.

https://www.ftbi-nitrkl.org/

Ministry of Education

🔗https://www.prameyanews.com/ftbi-at-nit-rourkela-marks-10-year-of-supporting-startups-innovation-and-employment-generation

21/05/2026

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at NIT Rourkela inaugurated two programs: an ANRF-PAIR-sponsored one-month internship & training program on “AI-Enabled Next-Generation Connectivity (Wireless & IoT)” and a national workshop on “Edge Intelligence: Demystifying the Intersection of Edge Computing and AI” on May 18, 2026.

The program is being organized under the convenership of Prof. Arun Kumar and Prof. Suchismita Chinara to provide participants with comprehensive exposure to emerging technologies in Artificial Intelligence, Wireless Networks, IoT, and Edge Intelligence.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by the esteemed presence of Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, (Director), along with Prof. Ashok Kumar Turuk(Dean Academic), Prof. Swadesh Kumar Pratihar (Dean SRICCE) and Prof. Bibhudatta Sahoo (Head of the Department).

The internship program and workshop witnessed enthusiastic participation from students, research scholars, and faculty members representing institutions from different states across India. Designed to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and practical implementation, the program features expert lectures, hands-on training sessions, simulation-based learning, and project-oriented activities. The internship includes focused Short-Term Courses on AI-enabled wireless communication and IoT applications, complemented by laboratory sessions and mini-project development to provide practical exposure to cutting-edge tools and technologies.

The National Workshop on “Edge Intelligence: Demystifying the Intersection of Edge Computing and AI” aims to equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills required to integrate Artificial Intelligence with emerging technologies such as IoT and Edge Computing for developing smart, automated, and data-driven systems. The workshop covers important topics including Edge Computing, AI/ML fundamentals, LLM applications in IoT and Edge environments, Data Management, Security and Interoperability, and real-world applications in Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Smart Cities.

The event aims for innovation, collaboration, and technological advancement in next-generation connectivity and intelligent systems.

Ministry of Education Anusandhan National Research Foundation - ANRF

20/05/2026

NIT Rourkela M.Tech Scholar Receives Prestigious IndiaAI Fellowship!

Vidhan Jain, an M.Tech scholar from the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at National Institute of Technology Rourkela, has been awarded the prestigious 'IndiaAI Fellowship' by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), GoI under the IndiaAI Mission.

Currently working at PRISM research group under the guidance of Dr. Sobhan Kanti Dhara (Assistant Professor), Vidhan has received the fellowship for his research project titled “Deep Learning-based Multimodal Tiny Human Detection in Aerial Imagery.” His work focuses on developing advanced AI-driven techniques for accurate human detection in aerial images, contributing to emerging applications in surveillance, disaster response, and remote sensing.

The fellowship is a highly competitive national initiative aimed at promoting advanced research and innovation in Artificial Intelligence and related domains. It provides financial support of up to ₹2 lakh for research activities, along with additional assistance of up to ₹1 lakh for international conference travel related to high-impact AI research publications.

Congratulations to Vidhan Jain on this remarkable achievement! 💐

INDIAai Anusandhan National Research Foundation - ANRF Ministry of Education

19/05/2026

Research Scholars’ Week 2026 Concludes at NIT Rourkela, Showcasing Research Contributions of 128 Scholars!

Held from 16–18 May 2026, the 10th edition of Research Scholars’ Week (RSW) brought together more than 128 research scholars from 20 departments, representing five broad research clusters: Basic Sciences, Chemical and Biological Sciences, Mechanical Sciences, Circuitry, and Humanities and Management.

The annual event provided a vibrant platform for scholars to present and discuss their research outcomes through poster and oral presentations.
Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar (Director of IIT Bhubaneswar) graced the inaugural ceremony as the Chief Guest and delivered a talk on “Difference Between Course-Based Education and Research.”

Recognising the contributions of the research community, Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director of NIT Rourkela, also extended his best wishes to the participating scholars. Joining the event, Prof. A. K. Turuk (Dean-Academic), Prof. Pradip Chowdhury (Professor-in-Charge of RSW 2026), and Prof. R. C. Pradhan (Associate Dean of PG and Research) shared insights about the event. A commemorative souvenir was released to mark the occasion.

The three-day scholarly event concluded on 18 May with a valedictory ceremony held in the presence of Prof. Bidyadhar Subudhi, Director of NIT Warangal, who attended the programme as the Chief Guest. The ceremony also featured the distribution of certificates to the coordinators and awards to the winners in recognition of their outstanding research contributions.

Ministry of Education

18/05/2026

40 Scholarships for Meritorious Students Announced Under the Joint Initiative of NIT Rourkela and its Overseas Alumni Network!

Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director, NIT Rourkela, announced 40 scholarships for meritorious students from financially constrained backgrounds during the '62nd Annual Homecoming Ceremony and Alumni Induction Programme 2026'.

Of the total scholarships, 20 will be supported through an endowment created by the NIT Rourkela Overseas Alumni Association (NITROAA), while the remaining 20 scholarships will be funded through resources generated by the Centre for Alumni, Industry & International Relations (AIIR) at NIT Rourkela.

Prof. Rao expressed appreciation to NITROAA for its generous contribution and support towards the growth and development of the Institute. He also highlighted the pivotal role being played by Prof. Himanshu Bhushan Sahu, Dean(AIIR) and Prof. Pankaj K. Sa, Associate Dean (AIIR) in advancing alumni engagement, industry collaboration, international partnerships, and student support initiatives at NIT Rourkela. Prof. Sahu (Dean, AIIR) noted that the initiative demonstrates the strong commitment of the Institute’s alumni network towards promoting academic excellence, equitable opportunities, and student empowerment.

Read More: https://ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/nit-rourkela-celebrates-alumni-legacy-announces-40-scholarships-at-homecoming-ceremony/

Ministry of Education NIT Rourkela Alumni Association - NITRAA

18/05/2026

Alumni, Graduating Students and Distinguished Guests Unite at NIT Rourkela's 62nd Homecoming Ceremony!

The ‘62nd Annual Homecoming Ceremony’ and ‘Alumni Induction Programme for the 2026 Graduating Batch’ were jointly organised by the NIT Rourkela Alumni Association (NITRAA) and the Centre for Alumni, Industry & International Relations (AIIR) at NIT Rourkela. The event brought together alumni, graduating students, faculty members, distinguished guests, and institute officials to celebrate the institute’s strong alumni network.

The programme was presided over by Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director, NIT Rourkela. Er. Madhusudan Padhi, IAS, distinguished alumnus of the 1984 batch and State Election Commissioner, attended the event as the Chief Guest. Distinguished guests of honour included prominent alumni of the Institute viz. Sri Susanta Kumar Nath, DGP Odisha; Sri Biswaranjan Palai, Executive Director (Works), SAIL-RSP; and Rear Admiral Sanjeev Sharma.

During the event, the first-ever 'Class Song' of the graduating batch, prepared by the Student Alumni Relations Cell (SARC), was released. Prof. H. B. Sahu, Dean (AIIR), announced plans to use students’ roll numbers as permanent alumni identity numbers. Sri F. C. Mohanty, President of NITRAA, and Prof. H. K. Naik, General Secretary of NITRAA, also addressed the gathering.

On the occasion, several endowment awards were presented to alumni to recognise academic excellence and distinguished achievements. Dr. Alok Mishra, Country Director, Westinghouse India, Mumbai, received the ‘Shailalata Memorial Award’. Mr. Kinjal Bhattacharya, Mr. Shrimay Sarangi, and Mr. Aniket Nayak were honoured with the ‘Asim Choudhury Memorial Award’, ‘Siladitya Patnaik Memorial Award’, and ‘Sri Debasis Memorial Award’, respectively, for outstanding academic and all-round performance.

Read More: https://indiaeducationdiary.in/alumni-graduating-students-and-distinguished-guests-unite-at-nit-rourkelas-62nd-homecoming-ceremony-40-scholarships-announced-for-meritorious-students/

Ministry of Education NIT Rourkela Alumni Association - NITRAA

17/05/2026

NIT Rourkela Scientist Honoured with INSA Associate Fellowship!

Prof. Bhaskar Kundu, Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the National Institute of Technology Rourkela, has been selected as an 'INSA Associate Fellow (IAF) for the year 2026' by the Indian National Science Academy (INSA).

Notably, Prof. Kundu is the only scientist selected in the field of Earth & Environmental Sciences by the INSA Sectional Committee for the prestigious recognition this year, highlighting the significance of his research contributions at the national level.

Prof. Kundu has been recognized for his outstanding contributions in solid earth geophysics, particularly in the areas of kinematic and dynamic modelling. His research has significantly advanced the understanding of various geodynamic and geological processes in Central India. Prof. Kundu, who is also a Humboldt Research Fellow, has established himself as a leading researcher through academic excellence, impactful publications, and significant contributions to teaching and scientific advancement.

INSA established in 1935 under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, is the country’s apex scientific body representing all branches of science and technology. Initiated in 2024, the 'INSA Associate Fellows (IAF)' programme recognizes outstanding mid-career scientists for their notable contributions to science, engineering, medicine, and technology. Each year, a maximum of 20 scientists are selected through a rigorous evaluation process conducted by specialized INSA Sectional Committees.

Congratulations💐 to Prof. Bhaskar Kundu on this prestigious honour.

Ministry of Education

17/05/2026

NIT Rourkela introduces engineering programmes in Physics, Math Computing, & Semiconductor Technology Read here 👉 https://indianexpress.com/article/education/jeemain-gate-nit-rourkela-introduces-engineering-programmes-in-physics-math-computing-semiconductor-technology-10687317/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=echobox&utm_channel=echoboxfb&utm_source=Facebook =1778666536

16/05/2026

Research Scholar's Week 2026 at NIT Rourkela.

🗓️16th May - 18th May, 2026
📍BBA and RM Exhibition Hall, NIT Rourkela

15/05/2026

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/national-institute-of-technology-rourkela-launches-future-ready-engineering-programmes-in-ai-semiconductors-and-quantum-technologies-1956504: Deccan Chronicle

The newly introduced programmes include B.Tech in Mathematics & Computing, B.Tech in Engineering Physics, M.Tech in Semiconductor Devices and Technology, and M.Tech in Machine Learning and Signal...

15/05/2026

India–Bhutan Student–Faculty Exchange Programme on Solid Waste Management Concludes in Bhutan!

National Institute of Technology Rourkela coordinated the India–Bhutan Student–Faculty Exchange Programme on “Collaborative Outlook on Technological Innovation and Synergies in Solid Waste Management (SWM): Learning Across Borders” in collaboration with Jigme Namgyel Engineering College, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, College of Science and Technology, Royal University of Bhutan. The programme was conducted across Bhutan from 30 April to 7 May 2026 at JNEC, Phuentsholing, and Thimphu, bringing together 33 students from the participating institutions. Prof. P. Balasubramanian and Prof. Bikash Chandra Maharaj led students from NIT Rourkela.

More: Details: https://www.nitrkl.ac.in/Home/AllNews/?id=10105

Ministry of Education