Karnataka Govt to solidify its IT, Science sectors, charts future path

The state government of Karnataka took a further step to solidify its position as the leader in the science, information and biotechnology sectors in the country. A dialogue and interaction with all industry and government stakeholders was held on Thursday, January 16, 2019, organised by the department of IT, BT, and S&T of the Government of Karnataka, to discuss the ecosystem challenges and opportunities in the IT and related sectors, as well as to strengthen industry-government relationship and to chart the future path for the state. The interaction was also to announce the BTS 2019 plan drafted by the state government.

Led by the Honourable Deputy Chief Minister Dr. G Parameswara, who also holds additional charge as

Minister for IT, BT, S&T, the interaction and discussion addressed policy making, infrastructure and other the unique challenges of the industry. Senior leaders from the industry, technology experts, R&D professionals, and international trade bodies and delegations - members of the Global Innovation Alliance, participated in the interaction at the Taj West End in Central Bengaluru.

Delivering his keynote address at the event, Dr. G. Parameshwara highlighted the efforts taken by the

Government to strengthen the IT & BT, S&T ecosystem in Bengaluru and to create further areas of opportunity and growth across the state.

He congratulated the ecosystem partners for contributing towards making Bengaluru a hub of IT & BT, S&T and helping Karnataka in being a home to global captive centres and assured complete support from the State Government towards strengthening these sectors.

He stressed on the need to create a talent pool and updating the syllabus at institutional level in order to keep our home talents up-to-date about the ever-changing technology and innovation in the global level.

Spread over three sessions, the interaction consisted of a breakfast meeting with CEOs and heads of the leading IT, BT, AVGC, ESDM and startups and heads of industry associations. The honourable Dy CM and IT Minister focused on the need to invest in the human potential and to ensure a future ready workforce. He stressed on the need for training and development, and to invest in R&D facilities.

The Deputy CM also held one-on-one interactions with leaders to discuss specific issues and opportunities. The final session saw trade bodies, international delegations and members of the Global Innovation Alliance reaffirm their support for the IT BT sectors in Karnataka, and discuss further avenues for cooperation. This session also saw participation from the heads of various startups and firms that took part in the incubation and accelerator programmes of the state, including winners of Elevate and Grand Challenge. This networking session allowed these young entrepreneurs to strengthen their ties with industry and government.

Dr. G Parameshwara emphasized on the need to hold interactions of similar manner in future in order to make Bengaluru a livable, innovative and leading city. He said a meeting with leading industry leaders every quarter or six months would be ideal so as to make Bengaluru a centre of excellence in every sector. Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairman, Axilor Ventures, Kiran Mazumdar, Chairperson and MD, Biocon, Debjani Ghosh, President, NASSCOM, Gaurav Gupta, IAS, Principal Secretary, It & BT, S&T, R. Girish, Director, It & BT, S&T and Industry leaders from IBM, TCS, BOSCH, Intel, WIPRO, Strand Life Sciences and others dignitaries graced the occasion.