Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025: Redefining the Future of Talent

• Karnataka redefines India’s workforce vision for the world.
• Innovation and inclusion drive talent transformation.
• Poised to lead as a global skill powerhouse by 2030.

In the heart of India's innovation capital, The LaLiT Ashok Bengaluru transformed into a crucible of ideas at the inaugural Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025. Organized by the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood (SDEL), Government of Karnataka, and hosted by the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC) in tandem with the Karnataka Skill Development Authority (KSDA), this flagship event powered by Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) as Knowledge Partner and managed by Trescon emerged as a beacon for global skilling excellence.

With Germany as Country Partner, the summit convened over two days to sculpt actionable strategies for inclusive, resilient talent, drawing policymakers, industry pioneers, academia, and youth into a symphony of collaboration.

The summit opened on November 4 with a vibrant Karnataka Rajyotsava Sadagara cultural showcase by singers Manasa Holla and Ashwin Sharma, celebrating the state’s heritage. The inauguration, led by Hon’ble CM Shri Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM Shri D.K. Shivakumar, and Sharanaprakash Rudrappa Patil, was graced by distinguished ministers, global delegates, and dignitaries from Mauritius, Germany, and Coursera.

Shri Siddaramaiah said, "Skill isn’t built in a day it’s forged through patience, perseverance, and continuous learning".

Highlighting Karnataka’s leadership from establishing India’s first Skill Development Department to empowering lakhs through Kaushalya Karnataka and Yuga, he envisioned the state as India’s Skill Capital and a $1 trillion economy 'The world looks to Karnataka for inspiration'.

Shri Shivakumar reinforced this, lauding Dr. Patil's drive and Karnataka's innovation primacy, while advocating deepened Indo-German ties for youth upskilling. Dr. Ramana Reddy outlined ‘Workforce 2030’ as a fusion of scale, systems, and synergy, aligning with global standards. Sanjeev Gupta, KDEM CEO, highlighted bridging education-employability divides in an AI-driven era, extending from Bengaluru to peripheral clusters.

As a media partner from siliconindia, stepping into The LaLiT Ashok Bengaluru for Day 2 of the Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025 felt like entering the epicenter of India's skilling revolution. November 5 unfolded with thematic dynamism, Sessions on ‘Karnataka’s Dialogue on Local Skills for Global Opportunities’ and ‘Green Skills for a Sustainable Future’ pulsed through the Plenary Stage.

Attendees explored the free Expo Pass-accessible Skills & Innovation Exhibition Zone until 6 PM, engaging exhibitors like Infosys Springboard, Goethe-Institut, Labournet Foundation, and others including Ants Skill Varsity, Bal Raksha Bharat, and StudyMEDIC.

Luminaries such as Subroto Bagchi (Co-Founder, Mindtree, Former Chairman, Odisha Skill Development Authority), B.V.R. Subrahmanyam IAS (R) (CEO, NITI Aayog), and Ravi Venkatesan (Chairman, Global Energy Alliance, Former Chairman, Microsoft India & Bank of Baroda) dissected workforce futures.

Smt. Shivakantamma (Kanta) Naik (Chairperson, KSDC & KVTC), Atul Kumar Tiwari IAS (R) (Former Secretary, GoI), and Achim Burkart (German Consul General, Karnataka & Kerala) enriched discourses on global practices.

Roundtables delved into ‘Building Tomorrow’s Skills Today’ and ‘Advancing Automation for Industry 4.0’, spotlighting initiatives like GIZ India's Indo-German Green Skills Programme and Coursera's digital pathways.

WorldSkills champions Likith Kumar Y P (Bronze, Prototype Modeling 2022), Nandita Saxena (Silver, Patisserie 2022), Varun Hanumanth Gowda (Medallion of Excellence, Mechatronics 2017), and Steven Harris Ramdev (Medallion of Excellence, Graphic Design 2022) inspired narratives of triumph.

Catalysts of Change: Green Skills for a Sustainable Future

Sanjeev Kumar Singh, COO of Ather Energy, highlights, “An electric scooter isn’t just about going from point A to B it’s about comfort, innovation, and smarter mobility. Customers today seek better, and we’re delivering value that goes beyond commute, proving that EVs are not just affordable they’re aspirational".

Inclusive Skilling as the Next Growth Multiplier

Prateek Madhav, CEO and Co-Founder of AssisTech Foundation (ATF), said, “AI isn’t just about hyper-personalization it’s about transformation".

Veenu Jaichand, Partner at EY, emphazies, “Change has to happen but it must happen differently. Real progress comes when we rethink, reinvent, and reshape the way we adapt”.

Also Read: Top 10 Key Takeaways from Gen Z's Early Job Exits

Convergence of Education, Skills & Industry for a trillion USD Economy by 2032

Dr. Sharanaprakash Rudrappa Patil, Hon. Minister for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood and Medical Education, Government of Karnataka, echoes, “Unemployment is our biggest challenge today, but in the coming years, Karnataka will stand strong as a hub of skilled human resources, driving growth and opportunity.”

“Let’s build an inclusive incubator to skill, re-skill, and upskill the differently abled. Karnataka isn’t just an investment hub it’s the skill capital of India", says Priyank Kharge, IT-BT and Rural Development Minister.

Leveraging Technology to Scale Skills

Prof. Venkappayya R. Desai, Director, IIT Dharwad, said, “Technology must enhance quality of life  at school, at home, and in society. It should optimize resources, ensure sustainability, and be guided by skills that blend communication, behavior, and technology. True progress lies in creating sustainable, skilled, and compassionate innovation for a better tomorrow.”