Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024: Insightful Verse from the Industry Doyens

SiliconIndia is proud to take the center stage as a media partner in witnessing the grand opening of the 27th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2024. Since its inception, the Department of Electronics, IT, and Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka has sowed the seeds that have correctly positioned Bengaluru on the global innovation map.

Held under the theme ‘Breaking Boundaries to Unbound Innovation’, BTS 2024 is Asia's largest tech conclave running from November 19 to 21. With more than 85 conference sessions and over 450 global speakers, the summit has invited representatives from over 15 nations, including Australia, the UK, France, Japan, and the USA. It is a melting pot of global perspectives dealing with advancements in IT, DeepTech, ESDM, Biotech, LifeTech, and Startups.

In the first session, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also unveiled the creation of three global innovation districts in Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Belagavi. The districts will house Global Capability Centers (GCCs), taking advantage of the unmatchable talent pool in Karnataka, especially AI expertise. The Chief Minister further spoke of the decentralized technological growth in a cluster-centric manner. He named examples of Mangaluru's fintech leadership, Hubballi-Dharwad as the hub for EVs and drones, and Mysuru as the PCB manufacturing hub. Also, Siddaramaiah highlighted the ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ idea, which will add technology to rural Karnataka to increase agricultural productivity.

The BTS 2024 was also a momentous day for signing five MoUs of major importance with tech giants Microsoft, Intel, IBM, Accenture, and BFSI Consortium. It has focused on skilling one lakh young professionals across the state while throwing light on the capacity building of the summit.

Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson and Founder - Biocon Limited Chairperson - Vision Group on Biotechnology- Government of Karnataka:

"I'm very excited about the bioethics policy, because bio-manufacturing is going to provide answers to many challenges that we face today. Whether it is energy, food, feed or biomaterials, we have a lot to gain from bio-manufacturing as today, between synthetic biology and cell-based fermentation through microbial or mammalian cells, we are able to look at disease, nutrition, and sustainability in a very different way.  Preeminently, the bioethics policy is actually focused on these three Es.- Environment, Economy, and Employment. I think Karnataka needs to focus on using technology-driven approaches to biology and bio-manufacturing, and I believe that this is the future. This is where we have the strengths to combine artificial intelligence and the power of biology".

Prashanth Prakash, Founding partner - Accel India Chairman- Vision group on Startups- Government of Karnataka:

I'm very encouraged by what I'm seeing at many of our academic research institutions, not just in Karnataka but across the country. Let's focus on Bengaluru, where we’re seeing some very cool research going across various institutes in our city. So if we look at IIT, there’s a team working on cutting-edge research in neuroscience, while a lot of work going on in gene editing using innovative technologies. It’s very advanced and forward-thinking. Then, there’s the Institute for Theoretical Sciences, whose research on LIGO waves and that's very interesting. The National Center for Biological Sciences is making significant strides in mRNA and RNA research, that's very interesting. I believe there is a nascency about what is happening, and we need to get to critical mass. And I think that's where the government is also doing its bit by encouraging industry to really support some of these initiatives. But what would be very interesting from my point of view is to focus on three or four moonshots and to get RFPs jointly from industrial research and academic researchto pursue some of these goals.

The Startup Building highlighted innovative solutions across sectors, from health tech and agri-tech to manufacturing and EdTech. Given that 2,500 attendees made it a very lively entrepreneurial platform for ideas and networking.

Also, karnataka, with its AI and biotech base, stands out in the global innovation arena. The inter-collaborations among governments, industry, and academia have cemented the state as a base for product development and advanced research. Strategic initiatives such as a wide-ranging AI policy have created a unique dynamic to develop a capable and innovative talent pool and encouraging innovation. It aims to establish 500 new GCCs and generate a revenue of $50 billion, putting the state in a clunky position for years to come. Among the sectors being fancied, Karnataka is concentrating on biotechnology, particularly in bioengineering and biomanufacturing.

As per the research in synthetic biology and genetics helps in the solution of various global issues that deal with energy storage, food production, and sustainability. Leveraging AI and genetic intelligence is the secret accelerator for these innovations. Collaborative research at premier institutions like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the National Center for Biological Sciences in Bengaluru exemplifies the synergy between academia and industry. The future of Karnataka lies with smart manufacturing, sustainable practices, and a diversified global supply chain. The state's expertise in aerospace, robotics, and sustainable materials will complement AI-enabled precision manufacturing for the advancement of emerging technologies.

Exploring the Possibility of a Bioengineering Center of Excellence

Priyank Kharge, Hon'ble Minister for Information Technology & Biotechnology and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Govt. of Karnataka

Usually, people would think at the macro level, and come up with a policy. Then we went down to the micro level. Now, the policy that we are doing is at the nano level. So, as I said earlier, we need to build a strong foundation of academics and skills, top it up with incubation, and incubators that will drive, market access, and commercialization. The first customers for that are provided with the sandbox environment, and then bring in the policy within the country, but also outside the country. We're able to build this solid pyramid, right from skills to commercialization, and also adopting it within the government. I think that's where scale will happen.

Bioengineering, bio-manufacturing, and precision manufacturing are areas we are actively working on, and we are committed to ensuring their growth. It's not just about Bengaluru; our goal is to extend this vision across the nation. We're setting up facilities where companies can experience the ecosystem firsthand, fostering a market-ready environment. With the government pushing for more incentives, we aim to create a solid foundation of academics, skills, and incubation. This, combined with market access and commercialization support, will drive the scale of innovation. We’ve recently launched a highly ambitious program with enormous potential for projects, accelerating progress in these critical sectors.