Karnataka is set to launch a dedicated single-window interface to bolster international technology partnerships, announced Priyank Kharge, the state's Minister for IT/BT and Home. This initiative aims to ensure sustained engagement with foreign delegations beyond their visits to Bengaluru, as revealed during a Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) meet on Tuesday.
Kharge emphasized a shift in how success is measured, moving away from counting the number of delegations, memoranda of understanding (MoUs), and letters of intent. Instead, the focus will be on tangible outcomes such as the number of Karnataka startups entering new markets, joint technology developments, and the conversion of pilot projects into businesses. This announcement comes ahead of the annual Bengaluru Tech Summit, highlighting the state's commitment to fostering global collaboration.
The GIA's next phase will involve a structured partnership lifecycle. This process will start with identifying suitable partners and aligning priorities, followed by formalization, execution, measurement, and scaling of successful programs. Kharge noted that this approach is already being applied in urban mobility projects, where international expertise is being sought to address Bengaluru's challenges in infrastructure and connectivity. Companies from the Netherlands and Singapore, along with local startups, are actively participating in these initiatives.
Kharge also highlighted the evolving nature of economic competition and collaboration. Technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, biotechnology, climate technology, and space technology are increasingly developed through global networks involving universities, startups, researchers, investors, corporations, and governments. He stressed the importance of Karnataka becoming part of these networks to foster the next generation of technology companies and jobs.
The state is repositioning itself from merely attracting technology investments to becoming a global innovation partner. This involves shifting the focus of international engagement from signing MoUs to achieving measurable outcomes such as joint technology development, startup expansion, research partnerships, and job creation. Karnataka has committed over ₹600 crore towards next-generation innovation, boasting over 80,000 startups and more than 1,100 global capability centers. The state accounts for over 40% of India's IT and services exports and a similar share of the country's engineering research and development talent.
The state is also building capabilities in emerging sectors, with a quantum mission aiming to create a $20-billion quantum economy by 2035. Plans include a dedicated quantum city and a quantum venture capital fund.
In space technology, Karnataka targets a 50% share of India's space market and 5% of the global market. However, Kharge acknowledged challenges such as traffic congestion in the Outer Ring Road (ORR) area, a technology corridor employing around 800,000 knowledge workers and accounting for up to 18% of India's over $300 billion IT exports.
