The National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) was established in 1996 by a group of academicians and technocrats educated in the top institutes of India and abroad. It is promoted by SM Charitable Educational Trust under the vision and guidance of its founder chairman, Dr. Sukant K. Mohapatra. The institute is approved by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and is affiliated to the BPUT. The institute campus of 70 acres is located in the Pallur Hills about 12 km from Berhampur and three hours drive from Bhubaneswar.