Sovereign AI Park to Anchor Odisha’s Next Growth Cycle
In a landmark push to position itself at the forefront of India’s digital economy, Odisha has signed a USD 2.3 billion memorandum of understanding with Bengaluru-based Sarvam AI to establish the country’s first full-stack Sovereign AI Park. The agreement, unveiled at the Black Swan Summit in Bhubaneswar and witnessed by President Droupadi Murmu, aims to build a 50-megawatt sovereign computing hub with tens of thousands of advanced GPUs, integrated research facilities, startup incubators and public-sector applications.
The initiative marks Odisha’s most ambitious technology investment yet, signalling a transition from a resource-driven economy to a compute- and knowledge-driven growth model aligned with its Vision 2036 and India’s broader digital-sovereignty agenda.
Who Is Sarvam AI? Building India’s Indigenous AI Stack
Founded in 2023 by a group of Indian AI researchers and entrepreneurs, Sarvam AI has emerged as a pioneer in Indic-language large language models and speech technologies tailored for public-sector deployment. The company focuses on multilingual models, voice interfaces and sovereign AI infrastructure that can operate at scale without reliance on foreign hyperscalers.
Its models are designed for Indian languages—including Odia—enabling applications in governance, healthcare, agriculture and education. Backed by global venture investors and already piloting government-grade AI systems, Sarvam AI’s partnership with Odisha gives it a state-level sandbox to deploy population-scale AI solutions while building indigenous compute capacity.
Economic Upside Beyond 5,000 Jobs
While the park is expected to generate over 5,000 high-skill direct jobs, the broader economic impact is likely to be significantly larger. The compute hub and associated ecosystem could attract tens of thousands of indirect jobs in data services, chip supply chains, research, and AI-enabled industries.
The presence of a large sovereign compute facility positions Odisha as a potential exporter of AI infrastructure and cloud capacity to other Indian states and enterprises. This could catalyse investments in data centres, semiconductor design, advanced manufacturing and startup ecosystems, potentially unlocking multi-billion-dollar spillovers over the next decade.
For a state with strong mineral reserves and surplus power generation, the ability to channel energy into high-value digital infrastructure offers a pathway to diversify revenue streams and move up the value chain.
A Transformative Digital Era for Odisha
Odisha’s economic foundation—rich mineral resources, reliable energy supply and established industrial corridors—creates a favourable base for AI-led industrialisation. The Sovereign AI Park builds on these strengths by converting surplus energy into compute capacity and leveraging industrial capability for hardware and infrastructure deployment.
By integrating AI research, startups, government services and enterprise adoption in a single campus, the state is positioning itself as a new digital-innovation hub on India’s eastern coast. This could attract talent from traditional tech centres while enabling local upskilling and entrepreneurship across sectors.
Dual Strategic Vision: Technology Sovereignty and Inclusive Growth
The proposed infrastructure is anchored in a dual strategic vision. First, it seeks to ensure technological sovereignty by building domestic AI compute and data infrastructure at a time of intensifying global competition over chips and AI capabilities. Second, it aims to deliver inclusive digital governance through language-first AI tools that can reach rural and tribal populations with limited digital literacy.
Applications ranging from voice-based public-service delivery to AI-assisted agriculture and healthcare could improve efficiency, reduce administrative costs and enhance citizen access to welfare schemes.
From Resource Hub to AI Powerhouse
Odisha’s sovereign AI partnership with Sarvam AI represents more than a technology project—it signals a structural economic shift. By leveraging its industrial base and energy surplus to build advanced digital infrastructure, the state is positioning itself for a new phase of technology-led growth.
If executed effectively, the Sovereign AI Park could transform Odisha into a national hub for indigenous AI development, drive economic diversification and strengthen India’s push for digital self-reliance. The challenge will lie in sustaining talent, infrastructure and policy support—but the strategic direction is clear: Odisha is moving from a resource economy to a knowledge and compute powerhouse.
(With agency inputs)
