Karnataka: The government is gearing up to introduce a preferential public procurement policy aimed at supporting startups and bolstering the state’s startup ecosystem. During the Big Tech Show organized by the Karnataka government in Mysuru, Priyank Kharge, the state’s IT-BT minister, announced this initiative. In addition to sector-specific ease of doing business initiatives, the government is actively working on the development of a preferential public procurement policy.
Kharge highlighted that this policy will provide government backing to startups with unique intellectual property registered through the state’s startup cell and actively involved in the ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ initiatives. The government itself will be among the first customers under this policy, facilitating the procurement of products and services from startups with distinctive intellectual property.
The event was hosted by the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) at the Infosys campus in Mysuru, as the city is being positioned as an emerging global hub for the cybersecurity and semiconductor sectors, including Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM).
Kharge emphasized that Karnataka is home to one-third of India’s tech talent, and the government is committed to supporting the startup ecosystem. Currently, the state boasts over 25,000 startups, with 15,000 of them receiving government support.
Kharge also mentioned the establishment of a Skill Advisory Council for emerging technologies, a first in the country, aimed at providing the skills needed for the nation’s technological advancements.
In line with its commitment to nurturing the tech ecosystem, the state has established dedicated Centers of Excellence in various areas, including IoT, cybersecurity, data science, AI, semiconductor fab, aerospace, robotics, and animation. Additionally, the state is set to launch more such centers of excellence by the end of the year, led by industry experts, to accelerate inventions and innovations in sectors such as fintech, manufacturing, wireless products, gaming, and health science, among others.