NEWS

• Objective: The Karnataka government has unveiled the Startup Policy 2025–30, targeting the creation of 25,000 startups in the next five years.
• Decentralisation Goal: Out of these, 10,000 startups are to be established outside Bengaluru, promoting regional innovation and balanced growth.
• Financial Outlay: The policy involves an investment of ₹518.27 crore over five years.
• Approval: Cleared by the State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

HIGHLIGHTS

Focus Areas

• The new policy emphasises emerging and frontier technologies, including:
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Blockchain
  • Quantum Computing
  • Deep Tech and Industry 4.0 innovations
• These domains are expected to strengthen Karnataka’s position as a national innovation hub and align with India’s digital and tech-driven growth strategy.

Current Ecosystem

• India’s Position: India ranks 3rd globally in the startup ecosystem, hosting 1.59 lakh startups.
• Women-Led Ventures: Approximately 73,151 startups are led by women entrepreneurs, showing a growing gender-inclusive innovation trend.
• Karnataka’s Share: The state currently houses over 18,000 registered startups, accounting for 15% of all DPIIT-recognised startups in India.
• Innovation Leadership: Bengaluru continues to be India’s startup capital, but the policy aims to extend innovation to tier-2 and tier-3 cities.

Expected Impact

• Job Creation: The policy is projected to generate large-scale employment opportunities, especially in tech-driven sectors.
• Regional Development: Encouraging startups beyond Bengaluru aims to reduce regional disparities.
• Global Competitiveness: By supporting deep-tech startups, Karnataka seeks to enhance its global competitiveness in AI, blockchain, and quantum research.