Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the 27th Bengaluru Technology Summit 2024, unveiling a bold roadmap to boost Karnataka’s tech and manufacturing sectors, including the launch of Global Innovation Parks and India’s first-ever GCC Policy
Published Nov 19, 2024 | 6:03 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 19, 2024 | 6:03 PM
Karnataka to build Global Innovation Parks (@blrtechsummit on X)
In a bid to solidify Karnataka’s position as a global technology hub, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on 19 November, Tuesday inaugurated the 27th Bengaluru Technology Summit 2024.
At the summit, he revealed an ambitious roadmap for the state’s tech and manufacturing sectors.
The summit saw the unveiling of several bold initiatives, including the establishment of Global Innovation Parks in 3 cities and the launch of the country’s first-ever Global Capability Centres (GCC) Policy.
The Ribbon Cutting for the Exhibition inauguration at #BTS2024 was done at the hands of Shri Siddaramaiah, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, in the august presence of Shri D.K. Shivakumar, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka. This grand opening marks the unveiling of… pic.twitter.com/NVA3UjVziZ
— BengaluruTechSummit (@blrtechsummit) November 19, 2024
A key highlight of the summit was Siddaramaiah’s announcement to develop three Global Innovation Parks in Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Belagavi.
These parks will serve as dedicated hubs to attract leading Global Capability Centres (GCCs), designed to strengthen Karnataka’s position as a top destination for tech-driven enterprises and innovation.
The chief minister also introduced the new GCC Policy, aimed at creating 350,000 jobs and contributing an estimated $50 billion to Karnataka’s economy over the next five years. The policy targets the expansion of 500 GCC units across the state, fostering growth in both technology and manufacturing sectors.
Additionally, the government plans to establish an Electronics Manufacturing Cluster in Kochanahalli, Mysuru, which will enhance the state’s semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, create thousands of jobs, and spur regional economic development.
Siddaramaiah laid out plans to decentralise Karnataka’s tech ecosystem by developing specialised regional hubs. Mangaluru will be developed as a fintech hub, Hubballi-Dharwad will focus on electric vehicles (EVs), and Mysuru will emerge as a center for drone innovation.
These initiatives are part of the state’s strategy to ensure balanced tech development and encourage innovation beyond Bengaluru.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar launched the ‘Nipun’ skill development program, which aims to train one lakh youth annually in collaboration with global technology giants such as Microsoft, Intel, Accenture, and IBM.
The initiative seeks to equip Karnataka’s young workforce with cutting-edge skills, ensuring the state’s talent pool is prepared for the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Furthermore, a ‘Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence’ will be established in Bengaluru to drive innovation in AI research and development. The centre, set to be a major accelerator for AI startups in India, will be led by the IIT Alumni Centre Bengaluru (IITACB) in partnership with the Karnataka government.
In his address, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah highlighted Bengaluru’s transformation from a defence and aviation hub to a global leader in IT, biotechnology, and deep tech.
He credited the city’s success to visionary entrepreneurs like Narayana Murthy of Infosys and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon. The government also launched the Bengaluru Data Report, providing insights into the city’s burgeoning tech ecosystem.
The summit also saw the recognition of industry stalwarts Santosh Kumar, Managing Director of Texas Instruments, and Harsh Sriharsha Majety, Co-Founder and CEO of Swiggy, for their significant contributions to Karnataka’s technology and startup ecosystems.
The event was attended by key figures including IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge, Skill Development Minister Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, KEONICS Chairman Sharath Bachche Gowda, Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajnesh, and Ekrup Kaur, Secretary, Department of IT/BT.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
