Karnataka to Strengthen Deep-Tech Ecosystem Through Five-Pillar Strategy: Priyank Kharge
Bengaluru: Karnataka will further strengthen its deep-tech ecosystem by focusing on five key pillars—talent development, research, startup support, adoption of emerging technologies in governance, and Intelligent Governance (I-G), Minister for Home, Information Technology, Biotechnology and E-Governance Priyank Kharge said on Thursday.
Speaking at ‘Future Forge – Charting India’s Deep-Tech Architecture’, organised by the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) in Bengaluru, the minister said Karnataka aims to build on its established model of collaboration between the government, industry and academia to drive growth in advanced technologies.
He said the state plans to strengthen sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Robotics, Quantum Computing and Biotechnology, describing them as the next frontier of technological advancement.
Kharge said the government’s Nipuna Karnataka initiative is promoting skill development in AI, cybersecurity, manufacturing and life sciences. He added that more than 20 Centres of Excellence, established through industry-academia partnerships, have played a key role in converting research into commercial products and have generated over 1,000 intellectual property (IP) assets.
Highlighting support for startups, the minister said the government has provided funding to more than 1,500 startups under the Elevate and Elevate Next programmes. Deep-tech startups are being offered financial assistance of up to ₹1 crore, along with mentoring and access to global markets.
Kharge said the state is also implementing the “Government First” concept, under which the government acts as the first adopter of innovative technologies developed by startups. Pilot projects are being implemented across sectors including healthcare, agriculture and urban governance.
He said Karnataka is transitioning from conventional e-governance to Intelligent Governance (I-G) by leveraging artificial intelligence and digital technologies to deliver more efficient and effective public services. The government is also giving priority to the development of environmentally sustainable data centres.
“Our aspiration is that the deep-tech technologies developed in Karnataka should not only benefit the state but also provide solutions to pressing challenges facing the country and the world,” Kharge said.
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