- From Bengaluru to the World- A Preview of BTS 2024
- Consul Generals from Australia, Denmark, Israel, Japan, Switzerland, the USA, the UK confirm their commitment to participation
Bengaluru, NFAPost: The Department of E, IT, Bt Government of Karnataka, under its Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) initiative, hosted the GIA Meet to promote the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024 (BTS 2024) to its Global Innovation Alliance partner countries and international trade mission representatives.
The meeting was graced by Karnataka IT and BT Priyank Kharge. The Consul Generals of GIA countries along with Heads of International Trade Missions & different provinces of these countries participated in the event including Australia, Denmark, Israel, Japan, Switzerland, the USA, the UK, Poland, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy & many more.
Karnataka Department of Electronics, IT and BT Director and KITS Managing Director Darshan H V set the tone for the GIA Meet. Later a detailed presentation on the event was provided by Karnataka IT & BT Secretary Dr. Ekroop Caur and Karnataka IT & BT Deputy Secretary Ruchi Bindal.
The Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) is an initiative of the Department of Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Government of Karnataka. The platform aims to create partnerships with leading countries in the field of technology and innovation.
This programme was conceptualized 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.
Addressing the gathering, Karnataka IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge said the government of Karnataka emphasized the importance of Bengaluru and Karnataka as a global hub for technology collaboration.
“Bengaluru is not just the tech capital of India; it’s a globally recognized hub for innovation, research, and technology-driven growth. The state’s dynamic ecosystem has attracted over $45 billion in foreign direct investment, with global giants establishing significant R&D centers here,” said Karnataka IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge.
With over 15,000 startups and a startup valuation of $180 billion, Karnataka IT and BT Priyank Kharge said Karnataka is at the forefront of global innovation.
“It is also the leading destination for Global Capability Centers (GCCs), with more than 400 centers already established in Bengaluru, making up over 40% of all GCCs in India. The Bengaluru Tech Summit has been instrumental in bringing together the brightest minds from around the world, and I strongly urge our Global Innovation Alliance partners to include BTS 2024 in their event calendars,” said Karnataka IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge.
He said the active participation will not only contribute to our shared technology future but also help continue creating high-quality jobs, driving economic growth, and building a more connected, sustainable, and inclusive world.
“Karnataka remains the destination of choice for global technology collaboration, and we look forward to welcoming our GIA partners to explore new opportunities and drive innovation together,” said the Minister.
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 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 event under the theme ‘Breaking Boundaries’, will provide unbound opprtunities that will feature a range of activities including a 6-track Conference covering IT & Deep Tech, Biotech & Healthtech, Startup Ecosystem, Global Innovation Alliance, India-USA Tech Conclave and newly added Electro-Semicon track. The Conference will host over 85 sessions featuring 460+ speakers.
Each of these tracks are curated by a committee of experts from the industry, research and academia. Special programs like the India-USA Tech Conclave, CEO Conclave, Startup Conclave, and Fireside Chats with renowned personalities will also be featured. The International Exhibition with over 700 Exhibitors including 500+ startups will be a major hightlight with focused pavilions on Corporate & Industry, Global Innovation Alliance, Startup Zone, STPI National Showcase, MSME Pavilion, R&D Pavilion (Lab to Market), Leading States of India, Karnataka Showcase and Technology Parks. This year there is a special emphasis for the sectorial pavilions focusing on industry sectors like Biotech & Healthtech, Electro & Semicon, Telecom, Spacetech, Mobility, Greentech, Edutech, BFSI & Fintech and Animation & Gaming.
A host of networking events like B2B Partnering, Awards, Strategic Roundtables with GCCs, investors, startup ecosystem, satellite events like Beyond Bengaluru; as well as IT & Bio Quizzes, Poster showcase, Hackathon are some of the other highlights of the event.
The GIA meet also featured addresses from the Consul Generals including Ms. Hilary McGeachy, Consul General, Australia; Mr. Eske Rosenberg, Consul General, Denmark; Ms. Orli Weitzman,
