The Data, Policy and Innovation Centre (DPIC) is a 5-year strategic partnership between the Government of Odisha (GoOdisha) and the University of Chicago Trust (UCT), India. The Centre, funded by the Government of Odisha and housed at the E&IT Department, will be the cornerstone enabling rigorous, evidence-based governance, using new advances in econometrics, data science, and machine learning.
Under this partnership, our goal would be threefold:
- Creation of a Hub for Modern Data Analysis, which would focus on the use of data to improve the decision-making process in the state of Odisha and lend support by providing insights into the effectiveness of existing programs and suggesting changes to achieve the objectives of the government.
- Field Pilots using Randomized Control Trials: Carrying out research, monitoring & impact evaluation, and project implementation in the sectors of Energy and Environment, Health, Education, Agriculture, and Water & Sanitation.
- Training and Capacity Building: The creation of a Data, Policy, and Innovation Centre will increase the internal capacity of the GoOdisha personnel by organizing seminars, workshops, and training sessions for government employees.
There are several areas where data-driven policy analysis might add significant value to existing policy ideas in Odisha. These include School attendance and Learning outcomes(Education); Improving crop yields and Water availability for farmers (Agriculture); Renewable energy and Reducing distribution losses (Energy), Smart city initiatives (Bhubaneshwar Smart City Project), Climate change and Pollution (Environment).