Karnataka is defining emerging technologies, not just embracing them: CM

About 200 CEOs from diverse business domains met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his Deputy D.K. Shivakumar here on Monday and recommended that the State government should focus on a wide range of issues in order to speed up the growth of its economy.

According to CEOs, entrepreneurs and head of startups, it is critical for the State to introduce special programmes focused on skilling and re-skilling meant for all knowledge workers from Karnataka, who are working inside and outside the State and also working outside the country. They also suggested the State should increase its focus on promoting deep-tech initiatives, accelerate the focus on Beyond Bangalore drive to decongest the State capital, and also set up a plug and play infrastructure facility to support the growth of the manufacturing sector.

In a breakfast meeting, organised as a prelude to the State’s annual tech exposition Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 scheduled between November 18 and 20, Siddaramaiah said, “Karnataka has always been more than a participant in India’s growth story, we have been its pioneer. From launching India’s first IT policy in 1997 to unveiling the country’s first state Quantum Technology Roadmap in 2024, we have consistently anticipated and prepared for the future.’‘

With 44% of India’s software exports, over 18,300 start-ups, over 875 Global Capability Centres, and nearly half of the nation’s AI talent, Karnataka was not just embracing emerging technologies, it was in fact defining them, he said.

Speaking on the occasion Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said from expanding Namma Metro and suburban rail to developing elevated corridors and the Bengaluru Business Corridor, alongside ease-of-doing-business reforms and skill initiatives, the State government’s aim was to connect people to purpose and make Bengaluru a city where world-class mobility meets world-class livability, positioning Karnataka as the global hub for talent, investment and innovation.

Responding to the CEO’s suggestions, IT Minister Priyank Kharge said a proposed ₹1,000 crore fund may help the State in furthering its economic growth through accelerating IT growth. He further said the government was willing to contribute ₹100 crore towards this fund while some nine entrepreneurs/start-ups could contribute ₹100 crore each to make a total pool of ₹1000 crore which could be invested in deep-tech areas.

Later elaborating on Karnataka’s achievements in technology, Ekroop Caur, Secretary, Department of Electronics, IT, BT and Science and Technology said the State’s electronics export share was 22% during FY 24-25 and the State contributed 10% to the country’s domestic electronic output. Karnataka also accounted for 40% of the design talent. According to a presentation made by her, of the 1,50,000 start-ups in the State, 50% are from Bengaluru and they raised $71.19 billion in funding.