Dharwad’s EMC 2.0 Attracts ₹300 Crore Investment

The Hubballi-Dharwad-Belagavi region is rapidly emerging as Karnataka’s second-largest industrial hub, with the recent EMC 2.0 in Dharwad alone attracting ₹300 crore in investments, electronics and IT-BT minister Priyank Kharge announced at TiECON Hubballi 2025 on Saturday.

The minister highlighted the region’s strategic location between Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad and its 500,000 sqft of built-up infrastructure, making it a key destination for businesses and industries. He also noted the success of the Beyond Bengaluru initiative, which is driving growth across multiple sectors, including SaaS, agritech, AI, and electric vehicles.

"Innovation knows no boundaries," Kharge stated, reaffirming the government's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship across Karnataka, particularly in tech-driven clusters like Hubballi-Dharwad.

According to the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), the Hubballi-Dharwad-Belagavi region is becoming a key centre for AI, machine learning, IoT, and advanced manufacturing. KDEM plays a crucial role in providing resources, infrastructure, and skill development programs, bringing together industry leaders, researchers, and entrepreneurs to boost economic growth.

Furthermore, the region is supported by over 10 renowned institutes of eminence and 43 engineering colleges, producing a talent pool of more than 35,000 engineering and degree students. The area also boasts a strong IT workforce, with 11,000 to 14,000 professionals contributing to its expanding digital economy. 

Infrastructure development is a key focus in the area, with 500,000 sqft of shared office space and 400+ co-working spaces, providing ample facilities for startups, businesses, and entrepreneurs to thrive.

Beyond Bengaluru

According to the Karnataka GCC policy, while Bengaluru will continue to be the hub for new GCCs, the state government is committed to promoting equitable growth through its ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ initiative.

The goal is to replicate Bengaluru’s efficiency and success in other parts of the state, catalysing the growth of similar ecosystems in cities beyond the capital. The policy will focus on incentivising GCCs to set up operations in cities like Mangaluru, Mysuru, the Hubballi-Dharwad-Belagavi cluster, Kalaburagi, Tumakuru, and Shivamogga.