UN technology innovation lab to be set up in Naya Raipur

The United Nations will set up a technology innovation laboratory in Naya Raipur, the new capital of Chhattisgarh, officials said today.

A meeting, presided over by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, was held at his official residence here.

During the meeting, a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) among state government's Electronics and Information Technology department, International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Naya Raipur and the Telecommunications and IT division of the United Nations, officials said.

Expressing happiness over the development, Raman Singh said the lab would help create a new identity for Chhattisgarh and its capital.

"This state-of-the-art lab would help Chhattisgarh achieve the dream of 'smart village' and Digital India. The country will also benefit from it," Singh said.
 

The lab will also help in research in different areas, he said adding that the development goals of the UN can also be achieved with its help.

According to the officials, the Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society (CHiPS) vice chairman A M Parial, IIIT vice chancellor P K Sinha, and head of UN's Telecommunications and IT division signed the MoU.

Senior state officials said considering the Chhattisgarh government's IT, innovation and start-up policies, the UN decided to set up the lab in the state.

The UN is setting up similar labs in other cities in the country, they said.