Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah announces plans to create 3 global innovation districts in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Belagavi, in a bid to attract GCC countries and boost the state’s technology sector.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Bengaluru, Nov 19 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday announced that the state government will create three global innovation districts in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Belagavi.
“These will be dedicated parks for GCCs (Global Capability Centres) which can be set up here in the state,” he said after inaugurating the 27th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS).
He noted that the state had recently launched India’s first dedicated Global Capacity Centers (GCC) policy, aimed at empowering and supporting these centres.
The three-day technology conclave is organized by the State Government’s Department of Electronics, IT and BT, with Australia being the official partner country for the event.
The Chief Minister said that the Bengaluru Global Innovation District will be part of the Knowledge, Wellbeing and Innovation City (KWIN City), which will serve as a global hub for innovation and research.
“Our state is a preferred destination for GCC countries, thanks to its unmatched engineering talent and the largest number of AI professionals in the world. This will be further strengthened by our initiatives under ‘NIPUNA Karnataka’, a program designed to create
a workforce ready to adapt to the industry,” he said.
Talking about the five MoUs signed at the technology summit with Microsoft, Intel, Accenture, IBM and BFSI Consortium, he said, “They are going to train one million individuals in the state of Karnataka. »
“Through a cluster-based approach, we are generating balanced regional growth, from Mangaluru’s fintech leadership and Hubballi-Dharwad’s advancements in EVs (EVs) and drones – to Mysuru being a PCB cluster (circuit board),” Siddaramaiah said.
“We are adapting policies and infrastructure to leverage regional strengths and attract investments to emerging clusters, while focusing on Bengaluru,” he said.
Highlighting that the government has made significant investments in physical and digital infrastructure to strengthen technology-driven sectors, the Chief Minister said, “Initiatives such as ‘Namma Grama Namma Raste’ program for rural connectivity and special development program improves accessibility and economic opportunities. across Karnataka.
“We believe in extending the benefits of growth beyond the technology sector through programs like ‘Beyond Bengaluru’, which bring technology to rural areas, increase agricultural productivity, improve education in line for students and have a positive impact on the provision of all services to citizens,” he said. said.
Siddaramaiah noted that Karnataka’s startup ecosystem has seen remarkable growth, with an increase of 18.2% between 2022 and 2023, totaling 3,036 startups and making the state a leader with 8.7% of the total startups. startups in India.
“This success reflects our strong support and dynamic opportunities for entrepreneurs. Our collaboration with the Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA) has connected over 200 startups with 100 funding firms, providing capital, mentorship and growth opportunities,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said that an Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) would be established at Kochanahalli near Mysuru, which would strengthen Karnataka’s role in the global semiconductor industry, creating jobs and boosting economic growth in urban and rural areas.
According to officials, BTS 2024 will host delegations from more than 15 countries, including the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and France. These high-level delegations, comprising government representatives, industry leaders and innovators, will enrich the summit with diverse perspectives and opportunities for collaboration, they said.
The summit comprises a multi-stage conference on six tracks: IT, Deep Technology and Trends, Biotechnology and Health Technology, Startup Ecosystem, Global Innovation Alliance, India-US Technology Conclave and the new Electro- track. Semicon, officials added.