Key facts
- Karnataka's IT/BT department approved four initiatives worth over Rs 27 crore.
- The initiatives aim to boost innovation across startups, biotechnology, medical robotics, and genome editing.
- A K-Combinator Startup Accelerator in Mangaluru received Rs 9.26 crore.
- The Super 100 Industry-Academia Adoption Programme received Rs 7.47 crore.
- Funding was allocated for advanced infrastructure in medical robotics and genome editing.
Karnataka's Information Technology and Biotechnology (IT/BT) department has sanctioned four initiatives totaling over Rs 27 crore to foster innovation across the state. These projects aim to bolster the startup ecosystem, encourage industry-academia collaboration in smaller cities, and enhance infrastructure for advanced biotechnology research.
Two initiatives are part of the Local Economy Accelerator Programme (LEAP), designed to strengthen innovation outside Bengaluru. The K-Combinator Startup Accelerator in Mangaluru, a collaboration with TiE-Mangaluru, received Rs 9.26 crore over five years to support early-stage startups. The Super 100 Industry-Academia Adoption Programme, in partnership with Karnataka Digital Economy Mission, was approved for Rs 7.47 crore over three years, aiming to create 100 industry-academia partnerships in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
Further funding includes Rs 3.66 crore over three years for developing an Advanced Surgical Assistive Robot for neurosurgery, a joint project between the International Institute of Information Technology, Bengaluru, and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences. Additionally, Rs 6.80 crore over two years has been sanctioned for expanding the Centre for Human Genetics in Bengaluru to house the new Institute of Advanced Genome Editing and Gene Therapy, creating approximately 1,500 square metres of laboratory space.
IT/BT minister Priyank Kharge stated that these approvals demonstrate Karnataka's dedication to investing across the innovation spectrum, from startups and talent development to frontier research in biotechnology, genomics, and medical robotics.