Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on July 12 hosted a breakfast meeting with more than 200 CEOs representing leading sectors such as IT, Semiconductor & Electronics, AVGC, Biotech, and startups.
This meeting, held on July 12, precedes the 27th Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2024 scheduled for November 19-21 at Bengaluru Palace.
“We are committed to fostering an environment that nurtures innovation, encourages investment, and supports sustainable growth” said CM Siddaramaiah.
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“Our sector-specific policies are meticulously designed to empower startups, SMEs, and large corporations alike, ensuring Bengaluru remains a vibrant hub for entrepreneurs and businesses. Karnataka stands as the pioneer state with sector specific policies in Startup, IT, AVGC, Biotechnology, and ESDM,” said Siddaramaiah.
The State Department of Electronics, Information Technology & Biotechnology also presented an 'action taken report,' addressing feedback from industry representatives gathered during last year's breakfast session
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State IT-BT minister Priyank Kharge emphasised Karnataka’s ambition to elevate its startup ecosystem, aiming to break into the top 5 globally. “We have already funded 983 startups and are hosting the TIE Global Summit in Bengaluru this year,” Kharge said.
Kharge further outlined plans for an upcoming urban summit to address challenges such as mobility, traffic, and solid waste management, where startups and companies will collaborate.
“We will soon launch Centers of Excellence in product and engineering, with blueprints to be unveiled within the next three months. We are also forming a strategy committee for AI policies and accelerating the establishment of an electronics manufacturing hub,” he said.
Kharge also highlighted initiatives in women’s workforce participation and childcare policies, drawing on successful models like Kusina Mane, which provides creches in rural areas. "There are 4,000 crèches in Karnataka. We can look at a model like this in urban cities,” said Kharge.
Discussing the state’s bioeconomy, Kharge noted Karnataka’s 21% share and outlined initiatives to bolster biotechnology skills and bio-manufacturing, including bio-foundries and biofuels from agricultural products.
He emphasised that Ease of Doing Business measures extend beyond IT to biotech, with existing Centers of Excellence for AVGC and plans for an Animation, Comics, and Gaming Center (ACGC).
Industry associations such as NASSCOM, IESA, TiE Bangalore, and ABLE facilitated discussions during the breakfast meeting. V Veerappan, chairman of IESA, lauded Karnataka’s decision to spotlight the Semiconductor and Electronics sector at BTS 2024. IESA President Ashok Chandak presented recommendations to the state government, underscoring opportunities for growth in the ESDM sector.
Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024 will span three days with six focused tracks: IT & deep tech, biotech & health tech, Startup Ecosystem, Global Innovation Alliance, India-USA Tech Conclave, and the newly introduced Electro-Semicon track. Over 85 sessions curated by industry, research, and academia experts will feature more than 460 speakers. Special programs include the CEO Conclave, Startup Conclave, and Fireside Chats with industry leaders.
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