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The Karnataka government is channeling its efforts to spur its information technology and biotechnology (IT-BT) efforts to harness regional strengths of its workforce and infrastructure. It will be setting up three dedicated global innovation districts in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Belagavi. These will house Global Capability Centres (GCCs) to spur its IT-BT initiatives.
The Bengaluru Global Innovation District will be part of the Knowledge, Well-being, and Innovation City (KWIN City), which will serve as a global hub for innovation and research.
"Our state is a preferred destination for GCCs, thanks to its unmatched engineering talent and the highest number of AI professionals globally. This will further be strengthened by our initiatives under 'NIPUNA Karnataka' which will be a programme designed to create industry-ready workforce," said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The state’s start-up ecosystem has seen remarkable growth, with an 18.2 per cent increase from 2022 to 2023, totaling 3,036 startups of which 1,054 are in the lifesciences space making the state a leader with 8.7 per cent of India's total start-ups.
Having a strong IT base, Karnataka’s biotech too has made strides accounting for 60% of India's biotech companies and employing nearly 54% of the country’s biotech workforce. Karnataka has a 30% share of biotech investments in India.
At the 27th edition of Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) here, the state government has singed five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Microsoft, Intel, Accenture, IBM and BFSI Consortium. All these have strengthens in both IT and BT, he said.
"Through a cluster-based approach, we are driving balanced regional growth. We are tailoring policies and infrastructure to harness regional strengths and attract investments to emerging clusters also along with our focus on Bengaluru," Siddaramaiah said.
Stressing that the government has made significant investments in physical and digital infrastructure to bolster tech-driven sectors, the Chief Minister said: "Initiatives like the 'Namma Grama Namma Raste' programme for rural connectivity and the Special Development Programme are enhancing accessibility and economic opportunities across Karnataka."
"We believe in extending the benefits of growth beyond the tech sector through programmes like 'Beyond Bengaluru,' which will bring technology to rural areas and improve e-education for students to positively impact healthcare services," he said.
“Our collaboration with the Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA) has connected more than 200 start-ups with 100 funding firms, providing capital, mentorship, and growth opportunities," he said.
The state’s GCC policy draft targets establishment of 500 new GCCs in Karnataka achieving a total number of 1,000 GCCs, to support creation 3.5 lakh new jobs and generating US$ 50 billion in economic output in the state by 2029 to catalyse economic growth beyond the state capital.
Minister for information technology Priyank Kharge said this policy is a testament to the government's unwavering dedication to nurturing the expansion of GCCs, which are vital engines of technological innovation, operational prowess, and employment generation across diverse industries.
"With precision, we have tailored incentives and support structures to meet the distinct needs of these centres, enabling them to harness Karnataka's full potential. The policy is built upon four foundational pillars like cultivating a highly skilled workforce, fostering collaboration between GCCs and Karnataka's vibrant innovation ecosystem, establishing a supportive regulatory framework, and offering targeted incentives for growth both within Bengaluru and beyond," he said.
At the summit, the government also announced the establishment of a Centre of Excellence on AI in Bengaluru for research and development.
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