Patna: The Bihar information technology minister, Shreyasi Singh, has said young people in the state are increasingly “making their mark” in the technology sector, challenging long-standing perceptions that Bihar’s talent pool is largely confined to civil services.
Speaking at the 10th foundation day celebration of the incubation centre at the Indian Institute of Technology, Patna’s Bihta campus on Thursday, Singh said Bihar’s youth possess “immense talent, determination and huge potential for innovation”. She added that while the state was earlier known primarily for producing IAS and IPS officers, it was now seeing a shift towards entrepreneurship and tech-driven careers.
The event also saw the signing of two memorandums of understanding between the IIT Patna incubation centre, AIIMS Patna and JHPIEGO, aimed at strengthening collaboration in healthcare innovation and research.
Singh said the state government was working to build a “strong startup and technological innovation ecosystem”, adding that the aim was not only to promote startups but also to provide end-to-end support “from idea to delivering the product to users”.
She highlighted initiatives such as a “plug-and-play” startup workspace at Biscomaun Tower in Patna, offering IT infrastructure for early-stage companies for up to one year, as well as software technology parks in Darbhanga and Bhagalpur.
Encouraging young innovators, she urged them to “set big goals, innovate fearlessly, and develop new solutions” to societal challenges. She also said preparations were underway to establish a research park at IIT Patna.
“I come from the world of sports where I never learnt to accept defeat,” she said. “In sports, there is victory or new lessons learnt from loss.”
IIT Patna director Prof TN Singh said incubation centres were now being operated in four engineering colleges in the state with support from IIT Patna. Representatives from JHPIEGO and BRAC also addressed the gathering.
The minister’s remarks come as Bihar attempts to position itself as a growing hub for technology and startup activity, leveraging institutions such as IIT Patna to anchor its ambitions.
