Historic partnership focuses on employability, entrepreneurship, innovation, research, internships, placements and startup ecosystem development
Baripada, September 8, 2026: In a significant step towards strengthening the industry-academia ecosystem and creating new opportunities for the students and youth of Mayurbhanj, the Mayurbhanj Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MAYCCI) and Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University (MSCB University), Baripada, today signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at establishing a structured, student-centric framework for collaboration between the academic and business communities of the district.
The MoU was signed this evening at the Chamber of the Vice-Chancellor of MSCB University, Baripada, in the presence of Prof. Dr. Mahendra Kumar Mohanty, Vice-Chancellor, MSCB University, and Rtn. Niroj Kumar Panda, President, MAYCCI.
On behalf of MAYCCI, Er. Saumyaranjan Mishra, Secretary, MAYCCI, signed the MoU, while Mrs. Sumita Singh, Registrar, MSCB University, signed the agreement on behalf of the University.
The partnership marks an important institutional initiative to bridge the gap between education and the world of work while creating a sustainable platform through which students, researchers, aspiring entrepreneurs, startups, faculty members and industries can collaborate for the economic and social development of Mayurbhanj.
The MoU places students and their future opportunities at the centre of the proposed collaboration. MAYCCI, through its member industries and participating employers, will facilitate greater access to internships, apprenticeships, industrial training, research internships, project-based learning, employment opportunities and placement initiatives for students of MSCB University and its affiliated institutions.
The collaboration will also explore campus recruitment programmes, pooled placement drives, job fairs, employer-student interaction programmes and apprenticeship-to-employment pathways, providing students with greater exposure to real-world industrial requirements and career opportunities.
The partnership is intended to strengthen employability by complementing academic education with practical exposure, professional skills, industry interaction and workplace-oriented learning.
A major component of the MoU is the development of a stronger startup and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Mayurbhanj.
MAYCCI will work with MSCB University to promote entrepreneurship awareness, startup orientation programmes, mentoring, capacity building, market linkages, investor interaction, funding-readiness programmes and access to relevant government and institutional schemes.
The collaboration will also support the development and strengthening of Entrepreneurship Development Cells (EDCs) within MSCB University, its departments, constituent institutions, affiliated colleges, professional institutions and other eligible educational institutions in and around Mayurbhanj.
Through these initiatives, students and young people will be encouraged not only to seek employment but also to explore entrepreneurship and become job creators, innovators and problem-solvers.
The MoU envisages the development of a joint incubation and innovation ecosystem through the proposed “MAYCCI–MSCBU Innovation, Incubation & Entrepreneurship Centre (MMIIEC)”, or such other mutually approved name.
The initiative is intended to provide a structured platform for nurturing innovative ideas, student ventures, startups and research-based enterprises.
The existing MSCBU Incubation Foundation, a Section 8 company of the University, may be reviewed, restructured, reformed or realigned, wherever considered appropriate, for facilitating the objectives of the collaboration, subject to applicable laws, regulatory requirements, institutional approvals and the constitutional documents of the Foundation.
The proposed ecosystem may support incubation, innovation, entrepreneurship, research commercialisation, industry collaboration, prototyping, technology development and startup creation.
MAYCCI will also support the University in constituting appropriate Executive and Advisory Committees for the incubation initiative, with scope for participation from industry leaders, entrepreneurs, startup founders, investors, bankers, professional experts, technology specialists, intellectual property and legal professionals and other relevant stakeholders.
The partnership will also promote closer cooperation in research and innovation, including joint research initiatives, industry-sponsored research, faculty and student research, live industry problem statements, consultancy, multidisciplinary projects, prototyping, patents, intellectual property creation, technology transfer, industry pilots and commercialisation of research outcomes.
By connecting academic capabilities with real-world industrial challenges, the collaboration aims to encourage research that addresses the developmental and economic needs of Mayurbhanj and Odisha.
The partnership will particularly encourage opportunities for students and researchers to work on practical challenges arising from local industries, enterprises and communities.
The MoU recognises the diverse economic potential of Mayurbhanj and seeks to align academic and entrepreneurial initiatives with the district's emerging sectors.
Potential areas of collaboration include mining and mineral-based industries, forest and non-timber forest produce and their value addition, agriculture and agro-processing, tourism and eco-tourism, cultural tourism and hospitality, handicrafts and handloom, MSMEs, tribal and rural enterprises, healthcare, digital services and renewable and green technologies, among other emerging sectors.
This approach is expected to provide students with greater awareness of local economic opportunities while encouraging innovation and enterprise rooted in the resources, skills, culture and developmental priorities of the district.
Another important aspect of the collaboration will be to help eligible students, researchers, entrepreneurs and startups understand and access appropriate government programmes, grants, schemes and funding opportunities.
MAYCCI will facilitate awareness, guidance and connections relating to relevant initiatives of the Government of India, Government of Odisha, DPIIT, Startup India, UGC, AICTE, MSME, DST, DBT, MeitY, NABARD, SIDBI and other competent agencies, wherever applicable.
The partnership will also seek to create greater awareness about private-sector opportunities involving angel investors, venture capital funds, corporate accelerators, CSR initiatives, family offices, impact investors, banks, NBFCs and philanthropic or development organisations.
The proposed support may include pitch-deck preparation, financial modelling, grant proposal preparation, investor readiness, financial literacy, due diligence preparedness, Demo Days and investor-connect programmes.
MAYCCI's role in such activities will remain that of a facilitator and connector, and the MoU does not constitute any guarantee of grants, loans, investments, government approvals or employment.
The collaboration is also aligned with the broader objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, particularly in promoting multidisciplinary learning, experiential and practical education, industry and community engagement, vocational exposure, employability, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology-enabled learning and local problem-solving.
The partnership seeks to create greater opportunities for students to develop skills, creativity, critical thinking, leadership capabilities, entrepreneurial orientation and professional competencies alongside their academic education.
MAYCCI and MSCB University will also work together to organise and coordinate programmes relating to startups, entrepreneurship, research and innovation across the University and affiliated colleges.
These may include awareness programmes, workshops, boot camps, mentoring sessions, competitions, innovation challenges, industry interaction programmes, startup events, research conclaves, Demo Days, investor-connect programmes and other suitable activities.
MAYCCI will provide mentorship and execution support, wherever feasible, for programmes promoted, supported or recommended from time to time by relevant government and statutory agencies, subject to applicable eligibility conditions and programme guidelines.
To ensure that the MoU translates into measurable outcomes, the two institutions will establish an appropriate Joint Steering Committee and may prepare annual action plans and activity calendars.
The mechanism will facilitate periodic review of initiatives relating to incubation, entrepreneurship development, government programmes, research and innovation, internships, apprenticeships, placements, funding opportunities and other collaborative activities.
The partnership will thereby move beyond a conventional academic MoU towards a structured, outcome-oriented and continuously monitored industry-academia engagement model.
The signing of the MoU is expected to open a new chapter in the development of a stronger ecosystem connecting students, academia, industry, entrepreneurs, startups, investors and the wider community of Mayurbhanj.
The collaboration seeks to leverage the academic strengths and institutional reach of MSCB University together with the industry network, entrepreneurial ecosystem and business facilitation capabilities of MAYCCI.
The ultimate objective is to create an environment where the youth of Mayurbhanj can gain access to skills, industry exposure, research opportunities, entrepreneurship, mentorship, internships, employment and avenues for innovation, while enabling local industries and enterprises to benefit from academic knowledge, talent and research capabilities.
The partnership is envisioned not merely as an agreement between two institutions, but as a long-term institutional platform for student empowerment, entrepreneurship, innovation, research and inclusive economic development of Mayurbhanj.
The signing ceremony therefore marks an important milestone in the collective effort to build a more connected, opportunity-driven and future-ready ecosystem for the students and youth of the district.
