15 countries to participate in Bangalore IT.Com

Monday, 01 November 2004, 20:30 IST
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BANGALORE: Fifteen countries are to participate in 'Bangalore IT.Com 2004', Asia's largest technology event, kicking off in the Karnataka capital Nov 1-5. The mega event, organised by the Karnataka government in association with the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), will have participating countries showcasing their technology strengths and products. The exposition-cum-conference has Australia participating with a 60-member delegation, led by its information and communication technology (ICT) minister Marsha Thomson. The other countries are Belgium, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Malaysia, Oman, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, the US and Britain. Karnataka Information Technology secretary M.K. Shankaralinge Gowda said the event, which is the seventh edition of IT.Com, will serve as a single platform to about 290 companies, including global majors such as Microsoft, Intel, AMD, Moser Bear, APC, Reliance, Satyam, Hathway, Tata Tele Services, ICIC OneSource, Progeon, PeopleOne Consulting, Convergys and Animaster. "We are holding six conferences spread over four days from Nov 2-5 on diverse themes such as technology outsourcing, India as a global hub for semiconductors, IT innovation in India, inside India, e-governance, and career prospects in the IT industry," Gowda stated. The exposition is being held in 10 pavilions at the Bangalore Palace grounds spread over 32,000 square meters. Three pavilions will focus on animation and the games sector, digital lifestyle and spectrum and a business process outsourcing and career mart. For the first time, the event will also see the launch of the India Semiconductor Association (ISA), a representative body of 30 national and international firms operating in the country. The ISA, with global firms such as Analog Devices, AMD, Broadcom, Cadence, Intel, Texas Instruments, Wipro and Insilica as prominent members will catalyse the growth of the industry to replicate the Taiwanese success story in the global $200-billion chip market. According to ISA chief mentor Sridhar Mitta, the forum will create global awareness about the Indian semiconductor industry and foster collaboration between industry and universities to form a talent pool. "We believe the time is ripe for the industry to make a leap into the upper echelons of semiconductor excellence. It will not be an exaggeration to call this the next big wave for the Indian technology sector," Mitta, a venture capitalist and chief of e4e Labs India, declared. ISA chairman and Broadcom managing director Rajendra Khare said 125 semiconductor firms were working on projects ranging from electronic design automation, testing to developing software. About 70 of these firms are based in Bangalore. "With the Indian semiconductor industry at an inflection point, a common platform with participation of the industry, academia and government will make the difference between us attaining global leadership and remaining as an also-ran," Khare said. Meanwhile, the Bangalore Forum for Information Technology (BFIT), has decided to withdraw its boycott call and participate in the IT.Com event. BFIT spokesman C.N. Kumar told reporters here the Bangalore-based IT firms have agreed to be part of the event following assurances by the state government to address the infrastructure problems dogging the high-tech city.
Source: IANS
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