The Department of Electronics, IT, Bt, Government of Karnataka, under its Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) initiative, recently hosted the GIA Meet to promote the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024 (BTS 2024) to its Global Innovation Alliance partner countries & international trade mission representatives. The Meet, held in Bengaluru, was graced by Priyank Kharge, Minister for IT, Bt, Government of Karnataka.

The GIA is an initiative of the Department of Electronics, Information Technology (IT), Biotechnology (Bt), and Government of Karnataka. The platform aims to create partnerships with leading countries in the field of technology and innovation. This programme was conceptualised in 2017 under the Karnataka Unit for International Co-operation (KUIC), and the GIA partners have grown exponentially, from 10 countries in 2018 to 30+ countries in 2024. The GIA Meet aimed to strengthen international cooperation, foster innovation, and invite global participation in the upcoming BTS 2024 scheduled from November 19-21, 2024, at the iconic Bangalore Palace.

International partners were invited to bring their country delegations, including both ministerial, academic, R&D and corporate representatives, participate in the exhibition by setting up country pavilions to showcase their technological capabilities, hold meetings with representatives from various nations, and conduct focused sessions under the Global Collaboration Track in the conference.

In her presentation Dr Ekroop Caur, Secretary to Government, Department of E, IT, Bt, and S&T, Government of Karnataka said, “GIA has been a key pillar in promoting Karnataka’s status as a global innovation hub, fostering partnerships with over 30 countries worldwide. Through these partnerships, Karnataka has successfully established itself as a vibrant centre for technology and innovation, creating a conducive environment for startups, entrepreneurs, and global corporations alike. The GIA Meet marks the start of global outreach efforts to ensure robust international participation in this as well as the future editions of Bengaluru Tech Summit.”

Dr Ekroop Caur presented an overview of the event along with new GIA initiatives which will be tailored to the requirements of the partner countries. She spoke about how the Government of Karnataka is actively enhancing its global engagement through several key initiatives aimed at fostering international collaboration for the state's vibrant startup ecosystem. The Global Innovation Alliance Market Access Programme (GIA MAP) has successfully facilitated physical exploratory visits for growth-stage Karnataka startups to five countries—UAE, Singapore, Belgium, Australia, and Germany—across various tech segments, supporting 42 startups. Notably, the recent edition in North Rhine Westphalia, Germany, announced a Welcome Package offering €10,000 in financial support to Karnataka-based startups.

In addition, the GIA Mixer, a monthly event launched in August 2024, focuses on promoting collaboration with a new country each month, with the pilot edition featuring DeepTech and Fintech startups pitching to Australian counterparts. Furthering its commitment to nurturing innovation, the Department is in discussions with the UK’s Catapult Network and Paris’s Station F incubator to bolster Karnataka’s Centres of Excellence (CoEs) and support the growth of its startups. The Department has recently launched a newsletter: 'The Innovation Chronicle': a monthly guide to key events, initiatives, and industry highlights in ESDM, startups, IT, and biotech through different sections like Breaking news, Department Hub, Industry in Focus, Luminary talks, among many other interesting insights from the Department.

The GIA meet also featured addresses from the Consul Generals including Hilary McGeachy, Consul General, Australia; Eske Rosenberg, Consul General, Denmark; Orli Weitzman, Consul General, Israel; Nakane Tsutomu, Consul General, Japan; Jonas Brunschwig, Consul General, Switzerland; Chrisopher Hodges, Consul General, USA; James Godber, Deputy Head of Mission, UK; Anne Cremers, Deputy Consul General, Netherlands and Raghu Rajappa, Honorary Consul, Poland. Besides, Heads of International Trade Missions & different provinces of countries participated in the event including Finland, France, Germany and Italy.

They expressed their commitment to fostering deeper engagement with Karnataka's thriving innovation ecosystem and participating in Bengaluru Tech Summit. BTS 2024 is set to bring together global thought leaders, industry executives, technology experts, policymakers, and investors to explore the latest trends and developments in technology and innovation. As the event approaches, it heralds a new era of unbound technological innovation and expansive global collaboration.

Photo caption: Dr Ekroop Caur, Secretary, Department of Electronics, IT, Bt, and Science & Technology; Priyank Kharge, Minister of IT & Bt, Government of Karnataka and several Consul Generals at the Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) Partners Meet, BTS 2024