Karnataka Signs MOUs with Tech Giants to Train One Lakh Professionals.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced recently that the state government has signed five Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with global tech giants Microsoft, IBM, Intel, Accenture, and the BFSI consortium to skill one lakh professionals in the state.

During his address at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024, the CM also revealed plans to establish three dedicated global innovation districts in Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Belagavi. The Bengaluru Global Innovation District, located just 45 minutes from Kempegowda International Airport, will serve as a global hub for innovation and research, further enhancing the state's position as a tech leader.

Siddaramaiah emphasized Karnataka’s pivotal role in India’s technological transformation, noting Bengaluru's evolution into a global tech powerhouse. He highlighted the city’s historical growth in aerospace and defense manufacturing in the early 20th century, and its subsequent rise as a hub for IT, biotech, and advanced manufacturing under the leadership of SM Krishna in the early 2000s. Today, Bengaluru is internationally recognized for its influence in software, biotechnology, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing.

The Bengaluru Global Innovation District will be a key component of the state's knowledge, well-being, and innovation city (KWIN) initiative. Siddaramaiah further emphasized Karnataka’s advantage in attracting global capability centers (GCCs), citing its strong engineering talent and high concentration of AI professionals. This momentum will be further supported by the Nipuna Karnataka scheme, designed to create an industry-ready workforce.

The state’s growth strategy also includes a cluster-based approach, nurturing regional strengths such as Mangaluru’s fintech leadership, Hubli-Dharwad’s advancements in electric vehicles and drones, and Mysuru’s emerging role as a printed circuit board (PCB) hub. The state is tailoring policies and infrastructure to foster these emerging sectors, alongside investments in Bengaluru.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar emphasized the government's commitment to addressing Bengaluru’s urban challenges, acknowledging the downsides of rapid growth. He assured that the state would implement time-bound programs to address these issues.

Karnataka is also emerging as a global leader in gaming, ammunition, visual effects (VFX), and comics, with significant achievements in intellectual property (IP) generation. The Deputy CM highlighted the state’s success in training over 650,000 professionals in generative AI, reinforcing Karnataka’s reputation as a hub for innovation and future-ready talent.

HBL