Karnataka CM unveils three policies to transform state into global destination for innovation
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday unveiled three major policies -- Information Technology Policy, SpaceTech Policy and Startup Policy -- to transform the state into a global destination for innovation and deep tech solutions.
This will strengthen the state's position as India's leading technology hub, he said, asserting that Karnataka is "not merely participating in the global tech revolution, but leading it".
The chief minister said this during the inauguration of the 28th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 here, organised by the Karnataka Department of Electronics, IT and BT and Software Technology Parks of India (STPI).
Noting that Karnataka has always led India in policy innovation, the CM said, "We launched India's first IT policy in 1997 and continue this leadership with new policies.
"At this summit, we are also taking a historic step with the launch of three transformative policies: The Karnataka Information Technology Policy 2025-2030, the SpaceTech Policy 2025-2030, and the Startup Policy 2025-2030. With this data-driven, emerging technology-ready Karnataka Information Technology Policy, we aim to transform the state into a global destination for innovation and deep tech."
With the SpaceTech Policy 2025-2030, Siddaramaiah said, "We aim to position Karnataka as India's leading space technology hub, capturing 50 per cent of the national market and 5 per cent globally by 2034."
"The new Startup Policy is being launched, and this policy aims to enable the creation of 25,000 startups over the next five years through strategic interventions in funding, market access, infrastructure, talent development, and social inclusion," he said, asserting that this forward-looking governance enhances Karnataka's competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global tech landscape.
Themed "Futurise", the three-day summit will bring together global leaders, policymakers, investors, startups, and innovators to explore emerging frontiers across DeepTech, Biotech & HealthTech, Semiconductors, and Startup Innovation.
Siddaramaiah said that Karnataka continues to remain one of India's top states for FDI inflows, global partnerships, and multinational investments due to its stability, predictability and transparency.
"The ecosystem blends world-class engineering, transparent policy, strong IP culture, and vibrant global communities. Our business environment is supported by top-tier legal, financial and technical expertise along with strong global connectivity," he added.
The chief minister highlighted that Bengaluru's temperate climate, multicultural character, and open civic culture attract people from across the world.
"Karnataka offers everything businesses require, from research to markets, from infrastructure to talent. Innovation thrives where quality of life thrives. Karnataka is not simply participating in the global tech revolution. It is leading it," he added.
Reiterating the government's focus on building future-ready infrastructure for deep-science and advanced engineering, the chief minister said that the state has already established Centres of Excellence in AI, cyber-security, data science, animation and robotics, and is the first in India to launch a dedicated roadmap for quantum technologies.
He said that inclusivity is a defining feature of the state's approach.
Through the "Beyond Bengaluru" initiative, the chief minister said, "We are consciously decentralising our technology economy by developing Tier-2 cities as the next generation innovation clusters. This is not merely an economic strategy, it is a commitment to equitable growth".
"Every district in Karnataka must have access to the opportunities of the digital age. Every young person, whether in a metro or a small town, should have the chance to build a career in high-value technology and research."
Reiterating the government's commitment to fostering a supportive innovation ecosystem, the chief minister said Karnataka remains open and welcomes global and domestic players.
"Our message to the world is simple and sincere: the Government of Karnataka is here to support you. Whether you are a global company seeking to establish an R&D centre, a startup building your first prototype, an academician conducting frontier research, or an investor searching for transformative ideas, Karnataka is your home. We will provide the infrastructure, the skills, the policy environment, the talent pipeline, and above all, the confidence that your ambition will find every possible support here," he said.
Calling for collaboration, Siddaramaiah urged innovators, researchers, founders, investors, students, and leaders gathered to help shape the future.
"Let us work together to ensure that Artificial Intelligence becomes a force for inclusion, that Quantum Technologies unlock new frontiers of science, that Biotechnology and SpaceTech push the boundaries of human progress, and that DeepTech solutions address the biggest challenges of our time," he added.
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Confident about Cong winning bypolls in Karnataka, guarantee schemes helping us: Siddaramaiah
Davangere (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday expressed confidence that Congress candidates will win both the Bagalkot and Davanagere South assembly bypolls in the state by a huge margin, as the government's five guarantee schemes will help the party.
Asserting that Karnataka's economy is in good shape, he accused the BJP of making negative statements for political gain.
The CM is in Davanagere to campaign for Congress candidate Samarth Mallikarjun, after campaigning for Umesh Meti in the Bagalkot segment for the last two days.
Bypolls for the Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly constituencies will be held on April 9. The polls were necessitated following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, respectively.
"I'm confident that we will win in both constituencies by a big margin because of our government's good work. Our guarantee schemes ('Shakti', 'Gruha Lakshmi', 'Gruha Jyoti', 'Yuva Nidhi' and 'Anna Bhagya') are helping us. The BJP opposed guarantee schemes because they are programmes for the poor and they always oppose such initiatives," Siddaramaiah said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said over Rs 1.31 lakh crore has been spent on the guarantee schemes so far.
Noting that there are two types of economic theory -- trickle-down economics and universal basic income -- the CM said, "We believe in universal basic income theory because Basavanna, Ambedkar, Gandhiji, among others, wanted the focus to be on eliminating the sufferings of the last man."
"Through the guarantee schemes, the government is providing benefits to the poor in society -- irrespective of their language, caste or religion -- directly to their bank accounts, without any interference from middlemen," he said, as he rejected the BJP's allegations of corruption in guarantee schemes.
Pointing out that the BJP also claims the treasury is empty because of the guarantee schemes and that the state is being pushed into a debt trap, Siddaramaiah said the state's finances were better managed compared to the central government and most of the states where the saffron party is in power.
Karnataka is number two in the country in GST collection and attracting investments. "Then how is the BJP saying that Karnataka's economic situation is not in good shape? They are making such statements for the sake of politics...Karnataka's economic situation is strong. The BJP is lying," he said.
He also claimed that prices of petrol, diesel and other essentials cost less in Karnataka compared to other neighbouring states in South India.
Karnataka's economy is strong and stable, Siddaramaiah said, as he questioned the Modi government over the falling rupee against the dollar, 'Ache din,' doubling farmers' income, and generating 2 crore jobs every year.
The CM also assured of more funds for Davanagere's development saying, "This is bypolls, not general elections. We will give more funds. We are in power and Congress will be in power for two years."
