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Karnataka Unveils Rs 600 Crore DeepTech Initiative, Aiming to Become India’s DeepTech Capital

• ByStartupStory     |    November 5, 2025

Karnataka Unveils Rs 600 Crore DeepTech Initiative, Aiming to Become India’s DeepTech Capital

The Karnataka government has announced a bold plan to invest over Rs 600 crore to accelerate the state’s DeepTech ecosystem, reaffirming its ambition to establish Karnataka as the DeepTech capital of India. The announcement was made by IT and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge ahead of the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025.

This DeepTech Decade initiative focuses on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in cutting-edge areas like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), quantum computing, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and sustainable technologies. The government plans to deploy targeted funding across multiple programs and regional hubs, including Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Kalaburagi, to expand beyond Bangalore.

Key allocations include:

• Rs 150 crore for the DeepTech Elevate Fund, supporting startups innovating in AI and frontier technologies.

• Rs 80 crore under the Elevate Beyond Bengaluru Fund to promote startups in emerging cities.

• Rs 75 crore from the Karnataka Information Technology Venture Capital Fund (KITVEN) for equity investments in DeepTech and AI startups.

• Rs 48 crore earmarked for establishing incubators and accelerators at IIT and IIIT campuses in Dharwad and Kalaburagi.

• Rs 110 crore allocated to support seed-level innovation across 11 institutions recently approved by the cabinet.

Kharge emphasized building a “robust DeepTech pipeline” to support entrepreneurs and create a globally competitive technology ecosystem. The government is also exploring co-investment models with venture capital firms to expand the fund size to Rs 1,000 crore, ensuring sustained capital flow in DeepTech sectors.

The announcement coincides with the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025, featuring the Future Makers Conclave, India’s largest entrepreneurship and innovation platform, bringing together thousands of founders, investors, and industry leaders focused on AI, DeepTech, DefenceTech, SpaceTech, and Mobility.

By systematically investing in infrastructure, talent, and innovation, Karnataka aims to solidify its leadership and attract global partnerships, positioning itself as a premier hub for frontier technologies in India.

In summary, Karnataka’s Rs 600 crore DeepTech initiative represents a strategic commitment to accelerate AI and frontier technology innovation, nurturing startups and positioning the state as India’s DeepTech capital for the decade ahead.

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