Bengaluru Tech Summit was introduced in the course of the state’s annual CEO Breakfast Meet, attended by over 200 tech business leaders (ETV Bharat)
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D Okay Shivakumar on Friday introduced the twenty ninth version of the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS), scheduled to be held from November 17 to 19 on the Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) below the theme “AI and Beyond.”
During the press convention, Priyank Kharge, Karnataka Minister for Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology and e-Governance, stated a key spotlight of BTS 2026 would be the Future Makers programme, which can showcase high-potential startups, innovation, and sustainability whereas connecting startups with buyers, mentors and world markets. He stated the state has declared the subsequent decade the “DeepTech Decade” and has doubled startup grants to as much as Rs 1 crore.
On the sidelines of the occasion, Priyank Kharge spoke to ETV Bharat. The following are the highlights from the interview.
ETV Bharat (ETB): As AI adoption grows, governments worldwide are balancing innovation with regulation. How does Karnataka plan to advertise accountable AI whereas guaranteeing information privateness, moral deployment, and belief? Can we count on any state-level coverage or framework on this route?
Priyank Kharge (PK): The Karnataka authorities is getting ready a complete AI framework, with a draft anticipated to be prepared within the subsequent few days. The framework, based mostly on suggestions from the state’s e-governance initiatives, will undertake a regulatory sandbox method to advertise the moral and accountable use of AI in governance. It will present a complete evaluation of AI’s influence on authorities, society, business, and startups, whereas addressing points akin to accountable AI adoption, information governance, privateness, AI mannequin implications, and the laws required for his or her use. The authorities additionally plans to make choose authorities datasets out there for analysis, innovation, and the event of options to governance challenges by startups and enterprises. The initiative is at present below improvement, with preliminary outcomes anticipated inside the subsequent few months.
The authorities may even give attention to coaching and reskilling a big workforce, coaching residents, and recognising that AI will turn out to be an integral a part of on a regular basis life. Karnataka has already introduced plans to determine an AI University, whereas the upcoming Deep Tech Policy will place a powerful emphasis and suggestions on AI as a key driver of varied improvements and the accountable use of AI. The state goals to guide not solely India but in addition the world in AI. Karnataka’s Deep Tech Decade initiative seeks to additional strengthen this management by creating a strong deep tech ecosystem that brings collectively cutting-edge science, funding, expertise, and business.
The occasion was attended by Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan; Dr Manjula N., IAS, Secretary, Department of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka (GoK); together with different division officers and dignitaries. (ETV Bharat)
With the nation’s largest focus of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in Karnataka, the state is properly positioned to capitalise on the AI wave whereas selling accountable and reliable AI adoption. As India’s IT and startup capital, Bengaluru has emerged as a world chief in synthetic intelligence, biotechnology, area, and quantum innovation. We intention to create a globally related innovation ecosystem that fosters technological management, entrepreneurship, and inclusive progress.
ETB: Quantum computing is shifting from analysis in the direction of industrial functions. What roadmap does Karnataka should construct a globally aggressive quantum ecosystem involving academia, business, and start-ups?
PK: Karnataka has already launched its Quantum Vision and Roadmap by way of the Department of Science and Technology. The state’s technique begins with expertise improvement, with plans to coach round 200,000 folks in quantum applied sciences in collaboration with business, academia, assume tanks, and company companions. The roadmap can be able to develop a 6.5-acre Quantum City, with work anticipated to start over the subsequent few months. Karnataka will observe its confirmed innovation mannequin by constructing expert expertise, incubators, and Centres of Excellence, backed by devoted budgets and supportive insurance policies. Three operational quantum computer systems are already out there in Karnataka at IIIT Dharwad, IISc Bengaluru, and Alliance University. Collaboration between authorities, business, academia and analysis establishments might be central to creating Karnataka’s quantum ecosystem and positioning the state as a pacesetter within the sector.
ETB: Karnataka is dwelling to premier establishments akin to IISc and several other main analysis centres. What is the federal government’s technique to translate cutting-edge analysis into globally aggressive deep-tech start-ups and industrial merchandise?
PK: The authorities is encouraging Global Capability Centres (GCCs) to accomplice with Karnataka’s innovation ecosystem, together with by way of co-investment alternatives. The thought is to allow GCCs to undertake improvements aligned with their sectors, akin to well being sciences, medical merchandise, and agriculture. Karnataka already has greater than 20 Centres of Excellence, the place analysis might be undertaken in collaboration with establishments akin to IISc, CV Raman Research Institute, HAL, and different analysis organisations. If these improvements are to be deployed inside the state authorities, the Government-First Policy and the Karnataka Innovation Authority will facilitate their adoption. Stronger collaboration throughout geographies and inside Karnataka’s GCC ecosystem might be key to accelerating innovation, commercialisation, and the adoption of rising applied sciences.