Bengaluru, July 24: Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar called on industry leaders to partner with the Karnataka government in shaping the next phase of the state’s development. Speaking on Friday, he emphasized the need for expanding world-class infrastructure beyond Bengaluru, establishing an AI university through industry collaboration, and unveiling new policies to strengthen the technology ecosystem.
Addressing a meeting of CEOs, Shivakumar highlighted that Bengaluru’s greatest strength lies in its talent and innovation ecosystem. He credited the city’s success to the individuals and companies that have made it India’s technology capital.
“You are ambassadors of Bengaluru. You are ambassadors of Karnataka,” he stated. He noted that many who arrived decades ago chose to stay due to the opportunities and talent the city offers.
Shivakumar pointed out that Karnataka’s economic performance is impressive, with software exports exceeding ₹4.3 lakh crore and expected to surpass ₹5.5 lakh crore this year.
“Behind every statistic is a young engineer landing their first job, a developer solving problems, and a family getting closer to their dreams,” he said.
He mentioned that Karnataka’s global capability centers have evolved from back offices to hubs of innovation, product development, and high-value work, with Bengaluru leading the office market in India.
Recalling discussions with global leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Shivakumar noted that companies continue to prioritize Bengaluru for its talent, eco-friendly environment, and cost advantages. He explained that while other states are competing, companies indicate that they can achieve the same work in Bengaluru for nearly $1, compared to $3.50 elsewhere due to its resources.
The Chief Minister announced that within the next 100 days, the government will introduce a policy encouraging industries to establish operations outside Bengaluru. This will include providing world-class office infrastructure at highly affordable rates, with office space in other Karnataka cities available for just 50 cents per square foot.
Shivakumar also mentioned that the government has already implemented new IT, space technology, and startup policies focused on deep tech, digital infrastructure, research, industry-academic collaboration, and entrepreneurship. Karnataka has also launched a quantum roadmap to accelerate the commercialization of emerging technologies.
He revealed that Karnataka is collaborating with the industry to establish an AI university. “Yesterday, we had extensive discussions on this initiative with Google. We do not want the government to build it alone. We want to partner with the industry. You lead, and the government will stand with you,” he stated.
This university will serve as a center for education, innovation, collaboration, and public digital access, aiming to provide AI education to rural students starting from the sixth grade.
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