Karnataka to set up 3 'global competency centres' on emerging tech

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The Karnataka government will set up three "global competency centres" outside Bengaluru to train young people in advanced technologies and improve their job readiness. The facilities, proposed in Mysuru, Koppal and Kalaburagi, will together train 37,500 youths over the next five years, with each centre targeting 2,500 candidates annually.

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The Government Tool Room and Training Centre (GTTC), state’s premier skilling agency, recently floated sought proposals to establish the centres under the Centre for Advanced IT Training and Industry Readiness (CAITIR).

“GCCs will function as multi-skill development centres covering both technical and non-technical streams, making trainees eligible for local, national and global opportunities. These centres will act as growth engines of the state’s employment and development process,” a GTTC official told Moneycontrol.

Training will be offered in domains such as electrical and industrial automation, electronics system design and manufacturing and  disruptive technologies, including artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality. Industry 4.0 applications and advanced IT skills like cloud computing, data analytics, business intelligence and cybersecurity will also be taught. Courses will also cover aerospace, welding, manufacturing technologies and building management systems.

Officials said these centres will bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry requirements. They will provide experience zones for hands-on exposure, support incubation and start-ups, and work closely with industry on prototyping and consultancy. Beneficiaries will include school students, ITI and diploma graduates, engineers, working professionals and dropouts seeking reskilling.

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Industry interface will be central to the programme. Internships, field visits and industry talks will help participants gain practical insights, officials said.

Technical skill development equips students with practical knowledge, while industry interface enables them to apply it in real-world settings. This combination makes them more employable and confident, an official said.

The request for proposal seeks OEMs and technology partners to establish and run the centres on a turnkey basis. Partners will be required to provide infrastructure, curriculum design, certified training programmes and placement support, while handholding the centres for at least three years before transitioning operations to the state.

Founded in 1972 as part of an Indo-Danish initiative, GTTC now operates 34 centres in Karnataka and is known for its diploma and advanced training programmes in tool-making, robotics, automation and precision manufacturing. It has also contributed to national projects including components for the Indian Space Research Organisation.

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