‘Branding Karnataka as global innovation hub is priority’

Bengaluru Rebuilding talent to suit the current growing trends, providing better infrastructure facilities, improving the ease of doing business and branding Karnataka as a global innovation hub are some of the priorities of the Karnataka government, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Thursday.

Citing Karnataka’s ‘Top Achiever’ rank in ease of doing business (EoDB) in the country in 2022, he said the government is focused on building a conducive environment and introducing pro-industry policies to attract investment, talent and opportunities to Karnataka. Speaking after inaugurating the new Philips India Innovation Campus here, he said the government wants industries to see the state as a hub that has an ‘end-to-end ecosystem’ for innovating and growing their businesses. “Our pro-business policies reflect our dedication to simplify regulatory processes….”, he said. “We have policies and initiatives to support and drive this agenda. Karnataka is the first state to come up with sector specific policies in Startup, IT, AVGC (animation, visual effects, gaming and comic), Biotechnology and ESDM (electronics system design and manufacturing),” he added. The chief minister said Karnataka has emerged as a hub for healthcare in India, boasting a robust ecosystem of research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers and healthcare providers.

The State’s strong emphasis on research and innovation has fueled the growth of this sector, making it a significant contributor to the state’s economy, Siddaramaiah said.