The National Institute of Science and Technology was established in 1996 and is being managed by the SM Charitable Educational Trust with the mission to "create engineering minds capable of mastering the global challenges of tomorrow's technology". The Institute is approved by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE under MHRD, Govt of India) and is affiliated to the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT). The Institute campus of 60 acres is located at the picturesque Palur Hills about 12 kms from Berhampur and 3 hours drive from Bhubaneswar.The Institute has grown by leaps and bounds under the able leadership of the founder Director, Prof. Sangram Mudali, Director (M.S., University of Houston, B. Tech., IIT Kanpur), Prof. (Mrs.) Geetika Mudali, Placement Director, (M.S.(MIS), New Jersey Institute of Technology, NJ), Prof. Ajit K. Panda, Dean, (Boyscast Scholar at University of Michigan, USA).
About 2700 students are studying in various disciplines of B. Tech, M.Tech (CSE, ECE), MCA, MBA & PGDM at NIST.The entire campus is 24x7 wi-fi connected. For the recreation of students and employees of the Institute, we have Lawn Tennis court, Basket Ball court, Swimming Pool, Cricket ground, Paragliding, Gymnasium, Adventure Sports, Canoeing, Kayaking, Himalayan Trekking, etc. A plethora of rock gardens, fruit gardens, nurseries, water fountains, aquarium, glass house for cactus vegetation, animal parks, etc., make the campus an eco-friendly zone where man and nature coexist in a rare ambience away from the dust and grime of city life.