Karnataka to Establish 3 Global Innovation Districts for GCCs: Siddaramaiah
"We will have three dedicated global innovation districts in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Belagavi. These would be dedicated parks for GCCs to set up shops in the state", Siddaramaiah said while launching the 27th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024 on November 19.
He mentioned the Karnataka government's announcement to introduce India's first dedicated Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) policy for empowering and supporting these centers.
The CM stated that the Bengaluru Global Innovation District will be a part of KWIN City, which lies 45 minutes from Kempegowda International Airport. This district will be the global hub of innovation and research.
Our state is a preferred destination for GCCs, thanks to its unmatched engineering talent and the highest number of AI professionals globally. This will be further strengthened by our initiatives under Nipuna Karnataka, a programme designed to create an industry-ready workforce. The five MoUs signed with Microsoft, Intel, Accenture, IBM, and the BFSI Consortium will skill one lakh people in the state", Siddaramaiah said.
He indicated that Bengaluru had been transformed by initiatives such as the Electronic City and IT parks, which would lay the foundation for its global tech reputation under the visionary leadership of former Chief Minister SM Krishna in the early 2000s. "Today, Bengaluru is Internationally recognized for its influence in software, biotechnology, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing, establishing itself among the fastestgrowing cities worldwide".
He added that the state is tailoring policies and infrastructure to harness regional strengths and attract investments in emerging clusters alongside Bengaluru. “Through a cluster-based approach, we are driving balanced regional growth, from Mangaluru's fintech leadership and Hubballi-Dharwad's advancements in EVs and drones to Mysuru’s PCB manufacturing cluster,” he explained.
Siddaramaiah said the Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) in Kochanahalli near Mysuru designed to strengthen Karnataka’s role in the global semiconductor industry by creating jobs and driving economic growth in both urban and rural areas.
He highlighted Karnataka’s startup ecosystem, which has seen an 18.2 percent growth from 2022 to 2023, with 3,036 startups making the state a leader, contributing to 8.7 percent of India’s total startups. “This success reflects our strong support and vibrant opportunities for entrepreneurs. Our collaboration with the Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA) has connected over 200 startups with 100 funding firms, providing capital, mentorship, and growth opportunities”, the CM said.
The state will also set up a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Bengaluru to foster research and development initiatives. Spearheaded by the IIT Alumni Center Bangalore (IITACB) in partnership with the Karnataka government, this Centre of Excellence is billed to be India’s premier accelerator for AI startups. It aims to support next-generation AI-driven innovations by providing startups with access to capital, mentorship, industry partnerships, and technical resources, according to a statement.
