The Karnataka government has announced a commitment of ₹600 crore to propel its “Deep Tech Decade” programme, aimed at positioning the state as India’s deep-tech and innovation capital. The announcement was made by IT & BT Minister Priyank Kharge ahead of the forthcoming Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025.
The funding will support frontier technology domains including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), quantum computing, advanced manufacturing, robotics and sustainability-driven innovation. As part of the initiative, ₹150 crore has been allocated for the DeepTech Elevate Fund, focused on early-stage AI and frontier tech ventures, ₹80 crore will support the Elevate Beyond Bengaluru Fund, seeking to foster startups in Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad and Kalaburagi, ₹75 crore will be channelled through the state’s venture arm (KITVEN) for equity-based support to deep-tech ventures beyond the capital city. Incubation and accelerator initiatives will receive ₹48 crore for new centres at institutions like IIT Dharwad and IIIT Raichur, and another ₹110 crore earmarked for seed-level research and business incubators in higher education.
Minister Kharge emphasised that the blueprint for the Deep Tech Decade is designed to make Karnataka a global technology hub and accelerate the state’s transition into a deep-tech economy.
The initiative is being launched in tandem with the Bengaluru Tech Summit, signalling the state’s commitment to scaling its startup ecosystem, expanding its innovation footprint beyond Bengaluru, and supporting research-driven entrepreneurship. The move also complements efforts in infrastructure development, skill building and equity investment aimed at boosting India’s competitiveness in next-generation technologies.
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