“The state has 37% senior tech talent and 44% mid-IT tech talent. Our goal is to push these metrics to a minimum of 60%,” he said at the closing ceremony of the three-day Bengaluru Tech Summit on Thursday.
The minister added, “With Karnataka’s potential and the new GCC policy aiming to create 500 new GCCs in the next five years, I believe this target is achievable, and the state has the appetite for more.” The state had announced the GCC policy on Tuesday, which aims to create 3.5 lakh jobs and $50 billion worth of economic output.
To address the issue of skill gaps for GCCs and MNCs, the state government has proposed a plan in which 100 GCCs would adopt 100 colleges in the state starting from the next academic year (March-April). A 50-50 curriculum catering to specific sectors will be introduced. “Companies often say that youth lack the right skills for employment. To address this, we’re working on a curriculum where 50% will be specific to a company or sector, like the automobile industry, and the other 50% will focus on overall knowledge,” Kharge told the media.
He added that this program will be introduced as an extracurricular option or additional credit, helping companies save time and money while ensuring faster return on investment (RoI). “Many companies have shown interest. A framework for this will be ready soon,” he said.
Collaborations and global market access
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Under the Global Innovation Alliance (GIA), the state announced key collaborations, including a Karnataka-Finland corridor focusing on sustainability and emerging technologies, and an MoU with Switzerland to enhance startup access to global markets. Sweden will facilitate a dual incubation program through the Sweden-India Council, providing access to European markets.
France joined under a Sister Summits program emphasising artificial intelligence (AI) and biotech, while a Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed with the UAE to connect with the Sharjah startup ecosystem. Collaborations with Stanford and Johns Hopkins universities will target AI skilling and medtech innovation, while Japan and the EU will support the promotion of manufacturing clusters, offering market opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and more.
During his address, Kharge emphasised the need for better avenues for investment, thought exchange, incubation, and creating sector-specific corridors at an international level. “India is no longer just a destination for investments but a hub for taking innovation to global markets. Macro and micro planning aren’t enough—nano planning is the way forward.”
He also spoke about building 10,000 startups in Karnataka, especially beyond Bengaluru, which currently has around 500. Highlighting the government’s focus on cities like Mysuru, Mangaluru, and the Hubballi-Dharwad-Belagavi cluster, Kharge said the aim is to scale this number by 3x.
