Corporates to open 100 engineering colleges in Karnataka by 2025: IT Minister

Karnataka plans to have 100 engineering colleges in the state “adopted” by 100 corporates by the next academic year. This initiative aims to improve the employability of students.

This new solution was announced at the three-day Bangalore Technology Summit (BTS), which concluded on Thursday, November 21, 2024, with Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge announcing a number of transformative initiatives.

Kharge explained that the initiative aims to address industry concerns regarding the lack of job-ready graduates due to insufficient training. To bridge this gap, the government has proposed a cooperative model in which corporations set up colleges and provide specialized training.

“We have invited businesses to take an active role in training students and we will provide the framework. In the first phase, 100 colleges will partner with 100 companies,” he said.

The summit also showcased Karnataka’s aggressive roadmap to strengthen its position as a global leader in technology and innovation.

MOTIVE OF THE SUMMIT

Priyank Kharge explained that the initiative stemmed from feedback from various industries, such as a major automobile company, which expressed concern about the lack of job-ready graduates due to insufficient training.

To solve this problem, the government proposed a cooperative model whereby corporations would set up colleges and provide the necessary training.

“We invited them to take an active part in teaching students and will facilitate this process. The framework is under development and they have committed to start with 100 colleges,” Kharge said.

Kharge also emphasized Nipuna Karnataka Initiative, launched in collaboration with industry giants such as IBM, Intel, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Accenture and the BFSI Consortium.

The program aims to train 1 million people within a year, providing them with enhanced opportunities to thrive in global markets. “Kannadigas will become the most skilled and employable workforce in the world,” he added.

During the summit, the state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to help develop Karnataka’s defense industrial ecosystem.

Additional memorandums of understanding have been signed with Finland and Switzerland, giving startups access to international markets and innovation networks.

NEW CENTER FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

A new Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence will also be set up in partnership with the IIT Alumni Centre, Bangalore.

The center will serve as a hub for startups, providing incubation space, artificial intelligence training and market access opportunities. “This is a unique initiative where the IIT alumni network will collaborate with the state government to set up a pioneering center focused on artificial intelligence,” said Priyank Kharge.

The summit featured 50 innovative product launches by startups in sectors such as cleantech, medtech, agritech, artificial intelligence and blockchain. Many of these products have been developed at K-tech innovation centers and centers of excellence with the support of the Government of Karnataka.

Impressively, 23 of these launches were from women-led startups, highlighting the government’s emphasis on inclusivity in innovation.

To further support the startup ecosystem, Karnataka will launch the Karnataka Startup Awards in 2025, recognizing excellence in innovation, scalability and socio-economic contribution. “This initiative will make Karnataka the first state in India to recognize startups through a special awards program,” Kharge announced.

Through these initiatives, Karnataka aims to strengthen its position as India’s leading hub of technology and innovation, collaboration and skilled workforce for the future.

(With PTI inputs)