Odisha CM Launches 46 Projects Worth INR 39,382 Crore, 42,500 Jobs Expected

Jajpur, Oct 14 (UDN): Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 46 industrial and development projects worth ₹39,382 crore, with the investments expected to generate around 42,500 employment opportunities across the state.

 Pic Credit: x.com/IPR_Odisha

The projects were unveiled at a major groundbreaking and inauguration ceremony in the Kalinganagar industrial hub of Jajpur district, bringing together government officials and industry representatives to discuss investment plans, project implementation and future industrial expansion.

Investments Across 14 Districts

The projects will be spread across 14 districts—Angul, Bargarh, Balasore, Boudh, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Kendujhar, Khordha, Mayurbhanj, Puri, Sambalpur and Sundargarh.

They cover a diverse range of sectors, including steel and metals, chemicals, renewable energy, food processing, biofuels, textiles, electronics, IT services, logistics, tourism, healthcare, shipbuilding, energy storage, rubber and plastics, and circular economy initiatives.

The investments are expected to strengthen Odisha’s industrial ecosystem while creating opportunities for local businesses, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and entrepreneurs.

Employment and Local Economic Growth in Focus

The Chief Minister’s initiative is expected to generate jobs for skilled and semi-skilled workers, particularly young people. Beyond direct industrial employment, the projects could also create demand for construction workers, transport operators, logistics providers and other supporting services.

Officials and industry representatives are also expected to hold discussions on project execution, address investors’ concerns and explore opportunities to attract further investments into Odisha.

Security Tightened for CM’s Visit

Elaborate security arrangements were put in place for Majhi’s visit to Kalinganagar. According to reports, 22 platoons of police personnel, 100 home guards and around 150 police officers of different ranks were deployed to maintain law and order during the event.

The latest project launch marks another push by the state government to expand industrial activity beyond established hubs and position Odisha as a competitive destination for investment. The actual employment impact will depend on the timely implementation and operationalisation of the projects.

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Founder Shield Rebrands as The Baldwin Group

Founder Shield Unifies with Parent Firm’s Brand and Becomes its Innovation Practice

NEW YORK – Oct. 14, 2026 – Founder Shield, a risk management partner for rapidly evolving, high-growth companies, announced today that it will complete its rebrand to The Baldwin Group and become the firm’s Innovation Practice.

“Founder Shield brings capabilities and talent that make The Baldwin Group a stronger, more integrated firm,” said Michael Robinson, President, Innovation Practice at The Baldwin Group. “As our Innovation Practice, we are adding momentum to a firm built for what’s ahead, and we couldn’t be more excited to finalize the brand transition.”

Founder Shield will continue to deliver cutting-edge solutions, specialized expertise, and exceptional service to clients reimagining business models across industry sectors. It’s insights, resources, and client portals will be available through foundershield.com and baldwin.com.

Kyle Jeziorski, Managing Director, Innovation Practice at The Baldwin Group added, “The Founder Shield name may be changing, but its commitment to clients remains as strong as ever. This transition opens the door to broader capabilities, greater collaboration, and a forward-thinking approach to risk and insurance that helps protect the possible for clients.”

For well over a decade, Founder Shield has built a digital insurance platform featuring a broad range of competitive and specialized insurance products designed to meet the unique risk management and client experience needs of emerging companies in sectors including Life Sciences, Tech and Media, Financial, and Small Business. To date, it has served more than 20,000 clients.  Since Founder Shield joined the firm in 2021, The Baldwin Group has expanded its capabilities exponentially, offering rapidly growing businesses more solutions at every stage of their growth journey, as they vault from concept to funding to scaling rapidly and into maturity.

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As OECD PISA Scores Hit Record Lows, JA Europe and UniCredit Foundation Renew Partnership to Keep At-Risk Students Learning

ROME, 13 October 2026 – Junior Achievement Europe (JA Europe) and UniCredit Foundation today announced the renewal of their “Re-Power Your Future” partnership through 2029, as part of a new three-year commitment by UniCredit Foundation to tackle Europe’s growing education challenge. The next phase will focus on helping young people in high dropout-risk schools build the confidence, skills and motivation to stay engaged in learning and prepare for their future.

The renewal was announced during Beyond Academic Performance. A European Dialogue on the Future of Education, held at the Foreign Press Association in Rome and bringing together UniCredit Foundation, OECD, Teach For All and JA Europe, alongside education leaders and experts, including Andreas Schleicher, OECD Director for Education and Skills. The discussion took place against the backdrop of OECD evidence pointing to declining learning outcomes, persistent inequalities and the need to look beyond academic attainment alone.

The partnership builds on three years of collaboration during which Re-Power Your Future reached more than 390,000 students and 5,900 schools across Europe, with a deliberate focus on those facing the greatest barriers to education. In the new phase, JA Europe and UniCredit Foundation aim to deliver more than 500,000 additional learning experiences and reach over 2,000 additional schools, while concentrating support where dropout risk is highest. 

PISA also underlines that performance gaps are closely connected to students’ sense of opportunity, growth mindset and academic resilience. For young people facing socio-economic challenges, unequal access to opportunities can compound gaps in academic performance. Re-Power Your Future responds to this challenge through practical, hands-on learning that helps students connect education to real life, develop entrepreneurial ideas and build the agency to shape their own future.

“Young people rarely leave school in a single day; they drift away when learning stops feeling relevant to their lives and future. The latest PISA results make clear that Europe must act earlier. At JA Europe, we see that hands-on learning, real-world challenges and an entrepreneurial mindset can re-engage students, strengthen their sense of belonging and help them believe in what they can achieve. Together with UniCredit Foundation, we are focusing on the areas where dropout risk is highest—turning proven experience into evidence and making early prevention standard practice across Europe,” said Salvatore Nigro, CEO of JA Europe.

“At UniCredit Foundation, we believe that every young person should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, regardless of background or circumstances. This is why we are committed to supporting those facing the greatest barriers, helping them develop not only academic skills, but also the confidence, resilience and sense of purpose needed to thrive in an increasingly complex world. Through our partnership with JA Europe, we provide practical learning experiences that enable young people to discover their talents, broaden their horizons and prepare for the future, while bringing together schools, local communities, non-profit organisations and corporate volunteers to expand opportunities and contribute to lasting, systemic change”, said Silvia Cappellini, General Manager of UniCredit Foundation. 

Evidence from the programme points to impact beyond academic attainment. In Romania, the 2024–2025 randomised controlled trial found a 24% increase in school engagement among participating students. In the 2025–2026 randomised controlled trial, conducted across three countries — Romania, Serbia and Hungary — 65% of participating students successfully developed a concrete entrepreneurial idea. The renewed phase will continue to strengthen measurement of long-term impact, reinforcing a shared focus on understanding not only how many young people are reached, but what changes as a result.

Through the renewed partnership, JA Europe and JA Members in Europe will span 11 countries: Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia. The approach combines direct support for young people with mentoring, career readiness, entrepreneurship education and the mobilisation of UniCredit volunteers and local networks to support schools and communities.

Together, JA Europe and UniCredit Foundation aim to translate the challenges highlighted by PISA and Education at a Glance into concrete action: addressing educational inequality through sustained investment in young people and in the educators, organisations and systems that can help them succeed.

Watch the recording: Beyond academic performance: a European dialogue on the future of education

Sundaram Finance Hosts a One-of-its-Kind Customer Meet, ‘Sundaram Circle’ at Mohali

Mohali, 13 October, 2026: In an era where most interactions have shifted to digital platforms, Sundaram Finance reaffirmed its commitment to human connectedness by hosting Sundaram Circle, a one-of-its-kind customer meet at Mohali. The event, themed “Where Legacy Meets Loyalty — and Welcomes the Next Generation”, brought together long-standing commercial vehicle customers and their next generation for an evening of connection, reflection, and forward-looking conversations. Around 25 customers partook in the event.

The company’s leadership emphasized that while the world shifts toward virtual convenience, Sundaram Finance continues to value the power of in-person connections. “Relationships aren’t built over screens — they’re nurtured through handshakes, smiles, and shared time,” a senior leader shared.

This belief echoes our founder Shri T.S. Santhanam’s guiding mantra: “Contact. Contact. Contact.” — the cornerstone of lasting customer relationships. Long before customer-centricity was a trend, our founder’s father, Sri Sundaram Iyengar, pioneered several such initiatives in the bus transport sector as early as 1924.

The whole event embodies Sundaram Finance’s 360° commitment, delivering comprehensive solutions through the Group’s companies: Sundaram Finance, Sundaram Home, Sundaram Mutual, Royal Sundaram, Sundaram Business Services, and Sundaram Alternates. This 360° approach extends beyond transactions. Sundaram Finance is in the business of everyday connectedness, where partnerships power livelihoods, support businesses, and help dreams take shape. The Group’s work is complemented by CSR initiatives in health, education, culture, and sustainability, including its Green Task Force, which focuses on long-term environmental impact.

The customer meet featured addresses by senior leadership, conversations with next-generation entrepreneurs and business owners, and discussions on how Sundaram Finance and the Group’s solutions continue to meet evolving needs. The leaders also felicitated long-standing customers with special recognition mementos, honouring their enduring association with the company. Long-standing customers shared their journeys, while first-time attendees experienced the company’s relationship-driven approach, a hallmark that sets Sundaram Finance apart in today’s fast-paced, transactional marketplace.

The evening closed with a reaffirmation of Sundaram Finance’s commitment to be a steady partner, not just for the next transaction, but for the next moment in every customer’s journey.

Tata Power and Imperial College London Collaborate to Advance Next-Generation Energy Systems and Accelerate India–UK Net-Zero Ambitions

Chandigarh, 13 October 2026: Tata Power, one of India’s largest integrated power companies, and Imperial College London, a world-leading UK University, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore opportunities for collaboration in research, technology and knowledge exchange across critical areas of the energy transition.

The collaboration will focus on areas including grid flexibility, energy storage, AI and ML applications in energy, and advanced energy systems. The partnership will seek to connect Tata Power’s experience of developing and operating energy infrastructure at scale with Imperial’s research expertise across digital technologies and decarbonisation.

The partnership comes as India and the UK deepen cooperation on clean energy and climate action. Under the India–UK Vision 2035, the two countries have identified energy storage and grid transformation as areas for greater cooperation, alongside joint work on AI, renewables, energy storage, hydrogen and carbon capture. The Vision also highlights the Net Zero Innovation Partnership as a vehicle for supporting deep-tech solutions and new markets for climate innovation.

Commenting on the partnership, Business and Trade Secretary, UK Government Jonathan Reynolds said: “When great British research teams up with the ambition and expertise of Indian business, there is huge potential to make a real difference. This partnership is a great example of our fantastic new trade deal bringing opportunities to life, and will help turn ideas into cleaner, smarter energy solutions – supporting good jobs and growth in both our countries.” 

Harjinder Kang, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for South Asia and British Deputy High Commissioner for Western India, said: “The partnership between Imperial College London and Tata Power is a great example of the UK and India combining their strengths to turn innovation into impact. Bringing together world-class UK research and Indian industrial expertise will help accelerate next-generation energy solutions, unlock new commercial opportunities and support sustainable growth in both countries.” 

Dr. Praveer Sinha, CEO & MD, Tata Power, said: “India’s energy transition is entering a phase where scale, flexibility and reliability will be as important as the pace of renewable energy growth. The next generation of grids, storage and digital energy systems will need to work together to meet a rapidly evolving demand landscape. Our collaboration with Imperial College will help solve real-world industry challenges with deep research and new thinking and explore solutions that can be relevant not only to India’s energy journey, but also to the wider global transition.”

The partnership reflects a shared interest in translating research and innovation into practical applications. Tata Power brings extensive experience across power generation, transmission, distribution and renewable energy, while Imperial contributes research capabilities spanning energy systems, engineering, digital technologies, economics and decarbonisation. 

Professor Mary Ryan, Vice Provost (Research and Enterprise) at Imperial College London, said: “As one of the largest energy companies in the world’s most populous country, Tata Power has expertise across a range of energy technologies and the scale needed to deliver the cleaner and more resilient energy systems we urgently need. This makes the company a fantastic partner for Imperial, which brings not only world-leading frontier research capabilities in science, engineering and business, but a model of convergence science that looks beyond individual disciplines to tackle challenges too large for standard approaches to innovation.”

By bringing these capabilities together, the partnership aims to support the development and demonstration of solutions that can contribute to more flexible, resilient and lower-carbon energy systems, while creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and innovation between India and the UK.

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European Real Estate Institutional Investors Want Less Operational Disruption And Faster Payback Certainty To Accelerate Action On Energy Efficiency

Oct 13: New research by re:sustain which explores energy efficiency across the real estate investment portfolios of European real estate institutional investors, shows that when asked to choose the two key factors that will accelerate action on poor energy performance, less operational disruption and quicker payback certainty were ranked as the most important.

Re:sustain, the leading science-based technology platform which optimises the energy consumption of real estate assets, surveyed 200 European real estate institutional asset managers in the UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain and Italy, with a combined AUM of €296 billion.

Reducing operational disruption was the most important factor cited by 79% of respondents that they believe will accelerate action to improve the energy performance of their assets.   Faster payback certainty was the second most important factor (65%), reflecting the significant upfront investment needed to save some assets from devaluing or becoming ‘stranded’.

Clearer regulatory signals ranked third (55%), highlighting concerns over the complexity of regulations and the need to comply with diverse local, regional and national codes, as well as policy uncertainty as a result of frequent shifts in global climate commitments and unclear enforcement mechanisms.

Better performance verification ranked fourth (40%).  Although the majority of respondents (82%) said that the quality of the data collected from across their real estate portfolios is good at helping them identify areas for improvement, only 47% are highly confident when it comes to using it to make capital allocation decisions.  Almost half (47%) said they are “quite confident” and 7% said it needs to be used with other analysis, rather than on its own. 

Crucially, the research also showed that almost two thirds (62%) of respondents said that only 20-40% of their assets have an up-to-date building management system – a vital tool that significantly helps accelerate the energy performance of buildings, reduces costs and minimises downtime as a result of costly equipment breakdown.

Commenting on the research Katie Whipp, Chief Business Officer at re:sustain, said: “Energy efficiency has moved from a sustainability objective to a core driver of asset performance and resilience. In a more volatile energy environment, institutional investors are not lacking intent – they are constrained by the perceived complexity, distruption, and uncertainty of execution. What our research shows clearly is that the market is prioritising solutions that deliver immediate, measurable outcomes without interrupting operations or requiring significant upfront capital. That is a fundamental shift. 

“The ability to optimise energy performance quickly, with high confidence in payback, is now directly linked to net operating income and long-term asset value. The challenge – and opportunity – is turning data into action at scale, and doing so in a way that fits within the operational realities of real estate portfolios.”

re:sustain was founded in 2021 by scientists who recognised that while data was being collected about real estate energy consumption, it wasn’t improving usage. To solve this problem, the re:sustain team developed innovative technology which uses collected building management system data (BMS) to create a highly calibrated digital twin of each building – an accurate model that reflects real asset performance. This dynamic thermal model allows for precise simulations and analyses, eliminating guesswork and enabling targeted interventions.

The proprietary re:sustain engine processes the digital twin data and the BMS data to identify inefficiencies and improvement opportunities, whilst calculating potential carbon savings. This remote approach allows for targeted optimisations and detailed mechanical insights on existing systems, reducing energy use, carbon emissions, and operational costs in support of sustainability goals—all without requiring Capex from asset owners or business interruption for occupiers.

To date, buildings using re:sustain technology have enjoyed 37% average annual energy savings in a process that takes just four to six weeks to implement. 

Libas to Add 9 Stores in 9 Days of Navratri, Accelerates Retail Expansion

New Delhi, 13th October 2026: Libas, India’s first tech-enabled Indian wear ultra-fast fashion brand, is accelerating its offline expansion with plans to open nine exclusive brand outlets (EBOs) across five cities during the nine days of Navratri. The expansion comes as the company looks to scale its retail network and strengthen its omnichannel presence amid rising festive demand.

The new stores will span Bengaluru, Jaipur, Kanpur, Noida and Jabalpur. Libas opened 28 stores in FY26, up from 10 in the previous fiscal, and is targeting more than 50 new stores in FY27. The brand crossed an annual revenue run rate (ARR) of ₹1,000 crore in March 2026 and is targeting ₹1,000 crore in revenue in FY27.

Sidhant Keshwani, Founder and CEO, Libas, said, “As Libas enters its next phase of growth, offline retail will be an important lever in expanding our consumer reach and strengthening our presence across markets. Our focus is on building a retail network that allows us to scale efficiently, respond to local demand and deliver a consistent brand experience. The nine store openings during Navratri is part of this larger strategy, as we work towards our FY27 growth ambitions.”

The nine stores will be located at Airport Road, Jayanagar, Commercial Street and Mantri Mall in Bengaluru; Pacific Mall and Vaishali Nagar in Jaipur; Z Square Mall in Kanpur; H&S in Noida; and South Avenue Mall in Jabalpur.

As Libas scales its retail footprint, the focus remains on expanding market access while building on its digital-first foundation. The company’s expansion strategy reflects a broader shift towards an integrated retail model, with physical stores strengthening consumer reach and supporting its ambition to scale across India’s evolving Indian fashion market.