Published Feb 09, 2026 | 9:25 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 09, 2026 | 9:25 PM
Priyank Kharge interacts with the startups at ABL. (X)
Synopsis: Priyank Kharge said that the Government of Karnataka is working on a series of forward-looking policy interventions to strengthen the state’s leadership in deep tech and sustainability. He announced that the state will bring out an Ocean Farming Policy in the coming months to unlock opportunities in marine and coastal technologies and the blue economy.
Priyank Kharge, Karnataka Minister for Information Technology, Biotechnology and Rural Development, on Monday, 9 February, said that the state is entering a new phase of its innovation journey—moving beyond services and scale to becoming a hub for innovation, invention, and intellectual property creation, driven by deep tech, applied research, and science-led entrepreneurship.
Attending the inaugural of Atria Beyonder Labs (ABL) at Atria University, he participated in a fireside chat on the future of artificial intelligence in science, deep tech entrepreneurship, and translation-ready innovation ecosystems.
The discussion focused on AI as a co-scientist, frontier science, patient capital for deep tech, and Karnataka’s opportunity to lead in building a sovereign science and innovation stack.
The chat featured Prof. Vijay Chandru, noted academic-entrepreneur, and Satya Dash, CEO of IKP Knowledge Park, and was moderated by Dr. Praphul Chandra, Dean of Research, Atria University.
Kharge said that the Government of Karnataka is working on a series of forward-looking policy interventions to strengthen the State’s leadership in deep tech and sustainability. He announced that the State will bring out an Ocean Farming Policy in the coming months to unlock opportunities in marine and coastal technologies and the blue economy.
The minister highlighted that Karnataka has already taken concrete steps in this direction through the launch of the Centre of Excellence in Aquamarine Innovation in Mangaluru, which serves as a hub for research, innovation, capacity building, and outreach in AquaBio innovations and translational research. He said the Centre is envisioned as a collaborative platform for scientists, industry leaders, and policymakers to drive economic growth while ensuring the sustainability of Karnataka’s marine ecosystems.
He added that the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Biotechnology will be a key focus area in the upcoming State Budget. “We are looking closely at how AI can accelerate biotech, life sciences, agriculture, and healthcare innovation, and how policy can support this convergence in a meaningful way,” the minister said.
Kharge further said that the government is revisiting Karnataka’s current data policy with the objective of developing a more sustainable and green data framework. “We are examining how data infrastructure and the digital ecosystem can become more energy-efficient and more sustainable, and how the entire sector can be accelerated towards responsible, climate-aligned growth,” he said.
Reiterating the state’s broader innovation strategy, the Minister highlighted programmes such as Elevate, under which the Government provides grant support to startups without taking equity and has also emerged as an early customer through procurement-led innovation. “Our role is to de-risk innovation, support startups in their early journeys, and build full ecosystems around deep tech and science-led enterprises,” he said.
The minister also said that Karnataka is exploring the creation of science and data stacks across sectors such as agriculture, biotechnology, infrastructure, and sustainability, while working to address data silos through policy and techno-legal frameworks. “If there is a clear public benefit, the Government of Karnataka is open to enabling responsible and secure data sharing to drive innovation,” he added.
Kharge reaffirmed that Karnataka will continue to position itself as India’s leading hub for deep tech, biotechnology, and innovation-led governance, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, applied research, and long-term public impact.
Dr. Sunder Raju, Chancellor, Atria University, said, “Atria Beyonder Labs represents our commitment to building globally relevant research and innovation capabilities from India. As the country strengthens its position as a global hub for science and advanced technology, platforms like this will play a critical role in translating research into real-world solutions and globally competitive technologies.”
Atria Beyonder Labs (ABL) is an applied innovation and venture platform designed to accelerate the translation of academic research into deployable technologies, industry-ready solutions, and scalable start ups.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
