• Focal theme of this year’ conference is Innovation and Impact
• The conference is set to attract over 10000 visitors, 200+ visionary speakers, 200+ startups and global leaders from 11 countries
Bengaluru, November 29, 2018 : The 21st edition of Karnataka State’ flagship Information Technology and Biotechnology event, Bengaluru Tech Summit was inaugurated today at the Bengaluru Palace by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, H D Kumaraswamy. The three-day extravaganza is set to be bigger, better and more engaging than ever with global participants, industry captains, futurists and innovators showcasing the proud legacy of innovation in Karnataka. The event is being organized by the Department of Information Technology and Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka, in association with Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) Bengaluru, with the support of reputed national industry associations like NASSCOM, IESA, TIE, ABAI etc.
Keeping in view the focal theme this year, ‘Innovation and Impact’, particularly the convergence of technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Blockchain etc. that helps in providing solutions for the challenges faced in health, education, agriculture, energy etc., sectors. While the big players have an advantage, it is the SMEs and Startups that need encouragement. The State Government, through the Startup Policy, intends to support and encourage Startups in providing solutions to several challenges faced by society. The Grand Challenges scheme provides opportunities for social innovation having wide ranging beneficial impact on the quality of life.
Speaking at the inauguration, H D Kumaraswamy, Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka, expressed his delight to be present at the inaugural function of “Bengaluru Tech Summit 2018”, a unique platform provided by the Karnataka State Government, for deliberating on innovation and its impact on industry and society at large. It is indeed an auspicious occasion as the event is seeing participation by a large number of people engaged in innovation, from both India and abroad.”
The 21st edition of Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) is a celebration of the success of unique eco-system of the State. Government, Industry, Academia and R&D Institutions, have partnered and created a unique eco-system here, which has given birth to several startups with innovative ideas, having an impact on the socio-economic environment.
“Karnataka has been consistently ranked high when it comes to foreign direct investment and employability. The IT, BT and related sectors have provided direct employment to over a million people and indirect employment to 3 million people in Bengaluru alone. The number of engineering and R&D centres of Multi-National Companies in India has increased from 943 in 2016 to 976 in 2017 as per a study conducted by the consulting firm, Zinnov. 65% of the MNCs who have their global in-house centres are from the USA. 37% of the GIC centres of MNCs are in Bengaluru. This goes to prove that technology engagement in the State is the bedrock of the strong foundation for investments. Karnataka is indeed the first choice for technology investments, worldwide,” H D Kumaraswamy, the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka further added.
The event spectrum this year would include keynote talks, powerful conference sessions, B2B Tradeshows, Startup Zone, Thought Leaders Conclave, IT Export Awards, Showstoppers (Product Launch), Bengaluru Tech Exchange, Makers, Global Innovation Zone and much more. It would be a unique blend of over 3000+ registered delegates, C-level Executives, thought leaders, policy makers, technology experts, young innovators and marquee investors.
The 3-day event has the support of leading IT and Electronics Associations, such as NASSCOM, IESA, TiE, ABAI, Data Security Council of India (DSCI) etc. The conference focus would be on Blockchain, AI, ML & Robotics, Intelligent Apps and Analytics, Immersive Experience (AR/VR), IOT, Telecom, Cyber Security, BioPharma, BioAgri, BioEnergy & BioFuels, BioServices, BioInformatics, Investment & Finance and much more.
Also speaking at the event, K J George, Hon’ble Minister for Large & Medium Scale Industries, IT, BT, Science and Technology, & Sugar, Government of Karnataka, said, “We are excited to present Bengaluru Tech Summit, which has become a platform of choice for innovators and global industry leaders to converge and showcase viability of current and emerging technologies. Infact, Karnataka was the first in the country to recognize the growing importance of Information Technology and Biotechnology. Karnataka believes in designing policies to suit the changing needs of the sectors. The emerging disruptive technologies have been taken into consideration while framing the policies for IT, BT, electronics and animation and gaming.”
He further added, “Disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, IoT, Machine Intelligence, Blockchain, Robotics, Drones etc., are going to drive the digital economy in the years to come. The State Government has taken initiatives to set up Centres of Excellence in these disruptive technologies so that we are prepared with adequate resources to ride on the new technologies for accelerating the growth of the economy. Innovation is the mainstay of our economy. We have adopted ‘INNOVATE KARNATAKA’ as our new brand this year and are vigorously pursuing initiatives that will take the State of Karnataka to a position of global leadership in innovation and entrepreneurship. Our vision for 2020 is Karnataka be the first choice of innovation and technology, globally, and therefore, all our initiatives are aimed at driving and strengthening the innovation and entrepreneurship eco-system in the State.”
Government of Karnataka has been instrumental in promoting the information technology industry since its inception and we have made a significant contribution towards carving a niche for India in the global IT arena. We believe that our flagship event this year will help us further accentuate the growth of the sector. This year’s event would provide a truly international experience for our participating members and create further opportunities to fuel innovation.”
Unveiling the future of print, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy releases, an Augmented Reality embedded book at the inaugural session of the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2018 on Thursday. Aptly, this innovative media tech product published by Raintree media and Global Village Publishing, is all about Bengaluru’s innovators and innovative ecosystem.
The highlight of this year’ conclave will be Humane Code – Global Hackathon where 20 winners from across the globe will be invited to the conference. The 25-day virtual global hackathon was conducted in collaboration with Global Innovation Alliance Partners and Startup Innovation Hubs to create solutions that addresses local / global societal needs. Another key event that is eagerly awaited is the Drone Racing Competition. Top drone racing pilots in the country will face off in a battle to prove their skill and acumen at the BTS 2018.
Wall of Fame is another major highlight this year. Achievements of entrepreneurs, professionals, designers, coders, technology enthusiasts, academics and the scientific fraternity will be showcased to the world at technology epicentre of the state.
Gaurav Gupta, IAS, Principal Secretary, Dept. of IT, BT and S&T, Dept. of Commerce and Industries, Government of Karnataka, said, “Karnataka is a leader in knowledge-intensive industries for decades. We take pride in our human capital with exemplary digital skills and continue to maintain our leadership in emerging technologies. Most key sectors today are getting disrupted by new technologies like blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics, and that these are technologies that we need to support. For us to be future ready, technology must be inclusive for people. This is also the focus of this year’ summit – Innovation and Impact. The impetus is on bridging the digital divide for all strata of society.”
