Karnataka to launch ₹100 crore fund to back India’s top 50 AI firms
Karnataka is set to deepen its innovation footprint with a new ₹100-crore fund dedicated to identifying and supporting India’s top 50 artificial intelligence (AI) companies, state Information Technology Minister Priyank Kharge announced.
Speaking at the CII INNOVERGE 2025 conference, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) under the theme “Make in India, Developed India & Digital India,” Kharge said the initiative will be unveiled at the upcoming Bengaluru Tech Summit.
“At the Bengaluru Tech Summit, we will launch the Future Makers track to showcase 20,000 startups and introduce a ₹100 crore fund to identify India’s top 50 AI companies,” Kharge said. “Karnataka today is not competing with other states; we are competing with ourselves to create global solutions through innovation, skills, and political will.”
Karnataka’s innovation momentum
Kharge highlighted Karnataka’s transformation into one of the world’s most vibrant innovation hubs, driving advancements in fields ranging from agritech to aerospace.
“We are not just an investment destination but the global knowledge and skill capital,” he said. “With 40% of India’s R&D talent, 30% of all Global Capability Centres (GCCs), and 48 of the country’s 110 unicorns, Karnataka drives India’s digital economy.”
The minister added that the state’s innovation model rests on three pillars — People, Policy, and Participation — ensuring synergy among academia, industry, and entrepreneurs.
“We are investing another ₹100 crore to build innovation clusters across Mangaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Belagavi, ensuring that the benefits of growth are evenly spread,” Kharge said.
Research synergy
At the same event, Kris Gopalakrishnan, chairman of Axilor Ventures and co-founder of Infosys, called for stronger collaboration between research institutions, academia, and industry to accelerate India’s innovation momentum.
“We must invest deeply in R&D, foster Centres of Excellence that collaborate with industry, and build clusters where ideas can move seamlessly from lab to market,” he said. “Our next phase of growth should be measured not merely by economic metrics but by innovation outcomes.”
Gopalakrishnan further noted that with India’s demographic strength, digital readiness, and entrepreneurial drive, the country has the potential to emerge as a global innovation leader, provided innovation is treated as a measurable and mainstream national priority.
A platform for Viksit Bharat@100
According to an official statement, the CII INNOVERGE 2025 summit served as a platform for leaders to discuss harnessing AI, technology, and strategic partnerships to power India’s vision of Viksit Bharat@100 through innovation-led growth.
The two-day event brought together policymakers, industry veterans, and startup founders to exchange ideas on building sustainable and inclusive innovation ecosystems that can define India’s economic and technological future.
