Karnataka ready for global partnerships beyond tech: DK Shivakumar

Bengaluru: Karnataka is ready to partner with the world, not just in technology, but across trade, innovation and people-to-people collaboration, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar said on Friday.

Shivakumar, along with chief minister Siddaramaiah, industries minister MB Patil and IT/BT minister Priyank Kharge, attended the ‘Bridge to Bengaluru 2026 – Dialogue with Diplomats’, a state-led initiative held in New Delhi aimed at strengthening global partnerships, the IT/BT department said in a press release.

Also Read: “Not the right time,” says Shivakumar as MLAs step up pressure on AICC for Cabinet revamp


The event brought together ambassadors, high commissioners and senior diplomatic representatives from over 80 countries, along with global industry leaders and institutional stakeholders, marking one of India’s largest diplomatic engagements led by a state government in the technology and innovation space, siad the statement.

Highlighting Bengaluru’s global appeal, Shivakumar said the city continues to attract talent and investment due to its openness, strong ecosystem and quality of life. “Bengaluru is not just a city you visit—it is a city you build with,” he said.

Chief minister Siddaramaiah reiterated the state’s broader partnership vision, emphasising its readiness to deepen engagement across sectors beyond technology, added the statement.

Officials said Karnataka, home to over 18,000 startups and more than 570 global capability centres, is positioning itself as a global innovation partner with strengths in research, policy support and market access.

Also Read: Assam set for change, ‘Hitler rule’ will end, says DK Shivakumar

A key highlight of the dialogue was the evolution of the Global Innovation Alliance (GIA 2.0), which aims to move beyond engagement-led interactions to outcome-driven collaborations, the statement said.

The framework will focus on sector-specific partnerships in areas such as artificial intelligence, deeptech, biotechnology and semiconductors, while enabling faster global market access for startups and fostering research and skilling linkages, it added.

The government said sustained engagement through initiatives such as GIA mixers, market access programmes and participation at Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 has helped deepen partnerships across Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and North America, translating into investments, startup exchanges and research collaborations.

The dialogue also served as a curtain raiser for the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2026, scheduled to be held from November 17 to 19 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. The event, themed ‘AI & Beyond’, is expected to host over 1,800 exhibitors, 25,000 delegates and 1,000 startups from more than 75 countries.