Karnataka to Set Up Centres of Excellence in Automotive Technology, Space Tech, and Gaming

Setting up one in automotive technology, another in space technology and the third in gaming would take the total number of CoEs in Karnataka this year to five as the state adds three more Centres of Excellence.

The CoEs would also solve important problems of the industries and undertake research and nurture sustainable ecosystems for startups and MSMEs in these emerging sectors.

The Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society, under the sponsorship of the Department of Electronics, IT, BT, and Science and Technology, has recently invited requests for proposals for the selection of implementing partners for three CoEs.

Karnataka IT-BT Secretary Ekroop Caur stated, "We had planned five CoEs this year, of which two have been established: fintech and AI. We have floated tenders for the remaining three."  Further, she added that we have set up about 15 CoEs across diverse sectors- cyber security, IoT, machine intelligence, robotics, and Semiconductors.

The state government is committed to each CoE with Rs 10 crore per year for five years, thus, the initiatives are designed to propel Karnataka into the technology age and bolster entrepreneurship in some key areas namely the automotive, space, and gaming industries.

CoE in automotive technology

This will give a testing facility hub for all future product development and innovation, specifically touching electric vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems, from auto tech CoE.

A senior official of the IT-BT department stated, “With Karnataka home to global automotive players such as Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Bosch and Ola Electric, this CoE aims to build upon the state's existing strengths in automotive technology and address industry gaps.”

“The CoE will focus on advanced R&D, product testing and prototyping. This will also address gaps such as dependency on global multinationals, limited local vehicle manufacturing and inadequate R&D infrastructure. It will also promote market access, skilling programmes and funding opportunities for startups, ensuring the availability of quality talent in the EV and ADAS sectors,” the official said.

CoE for gaming

The Karnataka government, which introduced the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality Policy for 2024-29, is planning to set up a CoE for gaming and e-sports.

The IT-BT department official stated, “In its initial phase, the CoE will operate from a 2,400-square-foot space, with plans to expand to 8,000 square feet over the next five years. The facility will be equipped to support startups and Research and Development activities, aiming to increase Karnataka’s competitiveness in the gaming and AVGC-XR sectors."

CoE in space technology

With the launch of the draft Karnataka Space Tech Policy, the state is set to establish a CoE for the sector. The IT-BT official stated, “This CoE will support Karnataka's growing space-tech ecosystem, which is bolstered by several prominent public and private space organisations based in the city.”

"In the next five years, the CoE will drive innovation by facilitating the co-creation of at least one product or solution annually, starting from the second year. It will also support the publication of academic papers and promote the participation of Karnataka-based space startups in global conferences and market access programmes," the official said.