The 27th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) from November 19-21, 2024 in the tech hub will focus on collaboration with the diverse sectors of the industry to drive innovation and breaking boundaries. As the flagship event of the State Government over the last 26 years, the BTS provides a platform for the best minds in technology and innovation to brainstorm on collaboration among the stakeholders. The 3-day summit is also billed as Asia’s biggest technology conclave.
As the theme of the summit is on collaboration between diverse sectors to drive innovation, the State Government will discuss and delve into the latest technological advancements and trends reshaping industries and businesses. The goal is to foster a dialogue between officials and tech leadership, centered on the state’s tech ecosystem and future prospects.
“Our flagship summit witnesses participation from industry, academia and policy-makers, who
inspire, collaborate and fuel the next wave of transformative technologies. We have had several heads of states and industry stalwarts participate in the summit over the years,” Mr Siddaramaiah said.
Digital Evolution
Acknowledging the pivotal role played by the technology industry in the socio-economic development of the state, the Chief Minister said the state government was committed to fostering an environment that nurtures innovation, encourages investment and supports sustainable growth.
“As we look to the future, our focus is on embracing the next wave of technological advancements. Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Blockchain and Quantum Computing are the building blocks of the next phase of our digital evolution. We are committed to investing in these technologies to ensure that Bengaluru and Karnataka remain at the cutting edge,” Karnataka Chief Fakir Balaji
Bengaluru epicenter of global technology Minister Siddaramaiah said at an interactive session in the city with about 200 CEOs from IT, Semiconductor and Electronics, Biotech and Startup organisations on July 12, 2024. The forward-looking policies of the state government has clocked a GSDP growth rate (nominal) of 14.2 per cent in fiscal 2022-23. Karnataka is the fourth largest state in the country, contributing 8.2 per cent to the country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
Vibrant Hub
Karnataka is the first state to come up with sector specific policies in Startup, IT, AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics), bio-technology and ESDM (Electronics, System Design and
Manufacturing).
“Our sector-specific policies are designed to empower startups, SMEs, and large corporations
alike, ensuring Bengaluru remains a vibrant hub for entrepreneurs and businesses. Karnataka stands as the pioneer state with sector specific policies inStartup, IT, AVGC, Biotechnology, and ESDM,” said
Siddaramaiah.
“I would like to express gratitude to all of you for your invaluable contributions to the tech industry. Your vision and leadership have not only transformed Bengaluru, but also made a significant impact on the global stage. Let us continue to dream big, work together, and make Karnataka the undisputed leader in technology and innovation. And as part of this mission, I look forward to your suggestions and opinions to take our State to new heights ifriendly policies and programmes, but also from its engagement and collaboration with the complete ecosystem,” Mr Kharge said on the occasion.
Of the 485 GCCs across the state, 40 per cent of them are in Bengaluru. “As they are important, we
will soon announce a GCC policy, which will be the first in the country. We will also have an EODB (Ease of Doing Business Report) report for GCCs,” Mr Kharge asserted.
Skill Building Noting that the government was listening to the industry to attract more investments and create more jobs, Mr Khrage said the tech industry made lot of suggestions and expressed concerns on certain polices and bills. “All suggestions have been put forward. We will shape and implement them as soon as possible,” he pointed out. As the State Government’s focus is beyond Bengaluru on skill building, incubation and innovation across sectors, the Minister said be it aerospace at Belagavi, semiconductors at Mysuru and startups in Mangaluru, a plug-and-play facility would be offerto GCCs to open or expand their operations.
“Though we are at number eight in startup ecosystems, we want to break into the top five. We have funded 983 startups so far in the state,” Mr Kharge said. Mr Kharge also outlined plans for an upcoming
urban summit to address challenges such as mobility, traffic, and solid waste management, where startups and companies will collaborate. “We will soon launch Centres of Excellence (CoE) in product and engineering, with blueprints to be unveiled within the next three months. We are forming a strategy committee for AI policies and accelerating the establishment of an electronics manufacturing hub,” he said.
‘Women’s Workforce’ Agriculture biotech and bio-manufacturing will be given importance. We have announced a bio-manufacturing plan ahead and are talking to the Union government and Stanford University to ensure how will we enhance technology agriculture, “We will focus on biotechnology skill council and bio manufacturing on scale,” Mr Kharge added.
On women’s workforce participation and childcare policies, drawing on successful models like ‘Kusina Mane’, which provides creches in rural areas, the Minister said there were 4,000 crèches across the state. The summit will have participation from about 40 countries, with 460 speakers in 85 sessions, over 5,000 delegates, 500 startups and 700 exhibitors, with an overall expo footfall of 50,000 people.
The multi-stage conference will serve as a vibrant hub to exchange new ideas. Spanning six focused tracks over three days, the summit will cover IT and Deep Tech, Biotech and Healthtech, Startup Ecosystems, Global Innovation Alliance and an India-USA Tech Conclave. A newl added Electro-Semicon track will emphasise breakthroughs in electronic components, semiconductor technologies, and integrated circuits, showcasing innovations that are driving the future of these pivotal industries. The State Department of Electronics, Information Technology & Biotechnology presented an ‘action taken report,’ addressing feedback from industry representatives. the technology-driven industry and seek your participation in making BTS 2024 a grand success.
