Karnataka to set up 3 Global Innovation Districts for GCCs: Siddaramaiah

Sriharsha Majety, CEO & Co-Founder of Swiggy, was honoured during the Bengaluru Tech Summit for his remarkable achievements in building one of Karnataka’s earliest and most inspiring startups.

Karnataka plans to set up three innovation districts for Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in the state.

“We will establish three dedicated global innovation districts in Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Belagavi. These will be dedicated parks for GCCs to set up shops in the state,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said while launching the 27th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024 on November 19.

He highlighted Karnataka’s launch of India’s first dedicated GCC policy aimed at empowering and supporting these centres.

The CM said that the Bengaluru Global Innovation District will be part of the Knowledge, Wellbeing, and Innovation City (KWIN City), located 45 minutes from Kempegowda International Airport. This district will serve as a global hub for innovation and research.

Also read: Karnataka's draft GCC policy: 3.5 lakh jobs by 2029, special package for Beyond Bengaluru clusters

“Our state is a preferred destination for GCCs, thanks to its unmatched engineering talent and the highest number of AI professionals globally. This will be further strengthened by our initiatives under Nipuna Karnataka, a programme designed to create an industry-ready workforce. The five MoUs signed with Microsoft, Intel, Accenture, IBM, and the BFSI Consortium will skill one lakh people in the state,” Siddaramaiah said.

He noted Bengaluru’s transformation through initiatives like Electronic City and IT parks, which laid the foundation for its global tech reputation under the visionary leadership of former chief minister SM Krishna in early 2000s. “Today, Bengaluru is internationally recognised for its influence in software, biotechnology, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing, establishing itself as one of the fastest-growing cities worldwide.”

He added that the state is tailoring policies and infrastructure to harness regional strengths and attract investments in emerging clusters alongside Bengaluru. “Through a cluster-based approach, we are driving balanced regional growth, from Mangaluru's fintech leadership and Hubballi-Dharwad's advancements in EVs and drones to Mysuru’s PCB manufacturing cluster,” he explained.

Siddaramaiah said the Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) in Kochanahalli near Mysuru designed to strengthen Karnataka’s role in the global semiconductor industry by creating jobs and driving economic growth in both urban and rural areas.

He highlighted Karnataka’s startup ecosystem, which has seen an 18.2 percent growth from 2022 to 2023, with 3,036 startups making the state a leader, contributing to 8.7 percent of India’s total startups. “This success reflects our strong support and vibrant opportunities for entrepreneurs. Our collaboration with the Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA) has connected over 200 startups with 100 funding firms, providing capital, mentorship, and growth opportunities,” the CM said.

Bengaluru data report was also launched during the event. The state will also set up a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Bengaluru to foster research and development initiatives. Spearheaded by the IIT Alumni Center Bangalore (IITACB) in partnership with the Karnataka government, this Centre of Excellence is billed to be India’s premier accelerator for AI startups. It aims to support next-generation AI-driven innovations by providing startups with access to capital, mentorship, industry partnerships, and technical resources, according to a statement.

Also, read: Bengaluru tech summit on November 19-21; Karnataka CM hosts breakfast for corporate leaders