Karnataka to set up 'global innovation hub' in Bengaluru airport city

Bengaluru airport city

The Karnataka government, Bengaluru Airport City Ltd (BACL), and ANSR on June 17 announced the launch of District I, a global innovation hub at the Bengaluru airport city.

The initiative aims to transform the city into a global epicentre of innovation by uniting startups, global capability centres (GCCs), IT firms, academia, VCs, accelerators, and public institutions into a single collaborative ecosystem, a statement said.

Spread over 28 million square feet, District I will focus on technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, blockchain, and CX. It will promote innovation across key sectors such as aerospace, smart cities, space, defence, retail, telecom, and BFSI - areas where Bengaluru already holds a leadership position.

Ekroop Caur, secretary of the department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T, said the initiative reinforces Bengaluru’s role in shaping India’s tech future.

Also read: Bengaluru Airport City breaks ground for 2 million sq ft business park, targets Global Capability Centres

The hub will serve as a launchpad for startups, a commercialisation platform for academic research, and a co-innovation space for enterprises.

BACL CEO Rao Munukutla added that District I will spark a mindset shift — from job seekers to job creators — fuelled by world-class infrastructure and support.

Lalit Ahuja, CEO of ANSR, described the project as a move to “redraw the global map of innovation” by providing a unified platform for all stakeholders in tech development.

The Bengaluru airport city is already home to cutting-edge infrastructure, including a 3D printing unit and central kitchen. The city is being developed as a smart, sustainable zone powered by renewable energy, and aligned with UN’s sustainable development goals.

District I will strengthen Bengaluru’s position as a tech and innovation hub by creating high-value job creation, IP generation, and global tech leadership, the statement said.

BACL, a subsidiary of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), is leading the development of this urban innovation destination, the statement said.