The Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet Thursday cleared the Karnataka Information Technology Policy 2025-2030, which aims at almost tripling the software exports of the state in the next five years. The financial outlay to implement fiscal incentives, concessions for IT companies, and other initiatives under the Policy is Rs 967.12 crore.
The policy, accessed by The Indian Express, aims to “increase software exports from INR 4.09 lakh crores to INR 11.5 lakh crores by 2030, reinforcing Karnataka’s leadership in global tech markets”. Its goals include increasing the contribution of the IT sector to Gross State Value Added from the existing 26 per cent to 36 per cent by the end of the policy period.
Among the proposals of the policy is setting up Technoverse, aka Integrated Technology Campuses, under the Public-Private Partnership model. These campuses will offer “future-ready tech ecosystem with plug-and-play infrastructure” and advanced R&D labs for AI, Machine Learning, cybersecurity and other IT sectors.
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A Global Testbed Infrastructure Network to connect advanced public and private testbeds across Karnataka’s key innovation hubs and Technoverse campuses, and a Statewide Digital Hub Grid to unify IT parks, centres of excellence, innovation hubs and R&D facilities, are also proposed under the policy. The ‘Women in Global Tech Missions Fellowship’ will be launched to train 1,000 mid-career women tech professionals.
The Cabinet also granted administrative approval for a sum of Rs 613.25 crore to rent out 46 sweeping machines to the five city corporations of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).
Addressing a news conference, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said that the mechanical sweeping machines will be procured for rent for a period of seven years. A note issued by Patil’s office said that tenders for sweeping machines will be floated as per the provisions of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act.
The proposal to hire the machines, the note said, was to improve air quality and road cleanliness, and provide a solution to public health concerns caused due to pollution. Any city corporations under GBA, which already have sweeping machines procured under various schemes, should reduce the intake of new machines the government has decided to rent, the note said.
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The cost of renting out the machines will be borne out of the resources of the city corporations under GBA.