AI, biotechnology to be key focus areas in Karnataka budget; greener data centre policy in the works, says Priyank Kharge

The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology will be a key focus area in Karnataka’s upcoming state budget, Minister for Information Technology, Biotechnology and Rural Development Priyank Kharge said on Monday.

“We are looking at how AI can accelerate innovation across biotechnology, life sciences, agriculture and healthcare, and how policy can meaningfully support this convergence,” Kharge said while speaking at an event in Bengaluru.

The minister said the state government is revisiting Karnataka’s data centre policy with the objective of developing a more sustainable and greener data framework. “We are examining how data infrastructure and the broader digital ecosystem can become more energy-efficient and climate-aligned, while ensuring responsible and long-term growth of the sector,” he said.

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Kharge added that Karnataka is exploring the creation of science and data stacks across sectors such as agriculture, biotechnology, infrastructure and sustainability, while simultaneously working to address data silos through appropriate policy and techno-legal frameworks. “Where there is a clear public benefit, the state is open to enabling responsible, secure and privacy-aware data sharing to drive innovation,” he said.

Outlining upcoming policy initiatives, the minister announced that Karnataka will roll out an Ocean Farming Policy in the coming months to unlock opportunities in marine and coastal technologies, aquaculture and the broader blue economy. He said the policy would aim to support innovation while ensuring environmental sustainability and livelihoods in coastal regions.

Kharge highlighted the Centre of Excellence in Aquamarine Innovation in Mangaluru as a major step in this direction. The centre is envisioned as a collaborative platform for research, innovation, capacity building and translational work in aqua-biotechnology, bringing together scientists, industry leaders and policymakers while safeguarding Karnataka’s marine ecosystems.

“Karnataka is entering a new phase of its innovation journey-moving beyond services and scale to becoming a hub for innovation, invention and intellectual property creation, driven by deep tech, applied research and science-led entrepreneurship,” the minister said.

At the event, Kharge inaugurated Atria Beyonder Labs (ABL) at Atria University, an applied innovation and venture platform designed to accelerate the translation of academic research into deployable technologies, industry-ready solutions and scalable startups.

ABL launched with the incubation of nine early-stage startups, including ventures working on autonomous logistics aircraft, biomedical waste safety solutions, green hydrogen and energy systems, carbon-negative materials and desalination technologies. The minister interacted with the startups and discussed their technologies, use cases and pathways to scale.

Reiterating the state’s broader startup and innovation strategy, Kharge highlighted programmes such as Elevate, under which the government provides grant support without taking equity and also acts as an early customer through procurement-led innovation. “Our role is to de-risk innovation, support startups in their early journeys and build full ecosystems around deep-tech and science-led enterprises,” he said.

Kharge reaffirmed that Karnataka will continue positioning itself as India’s leading hub for deep tech, biotechnology and innovation-led governance, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, applied research and long-term public impact.