The Karnataka government has approved the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (CoE-AI) at the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Raichur, under the IT-BT Department’s Local Economy Accelerator Programme (LEAP). The project has been approved with a total outlay of ₹12 crore.
The centre aims to expand AI-driven research, skilling, innovation and entrepreneurship beyond Bengaluru, with a particular focus on tier-2 and tier-3 cities. It is expected to serve as a regional AI hub for North Karnataka while supporting the state’s broader strategy to decentralise technology-led growth.
Announcing the decision, Karnataka IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge wrote in a LinkedIn post, “The government of Karnataka has approved the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence at the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Raichur, under the IT-BT Department, Karnataka’s LEAP. With a total outlay of ₹12 crore, this marks another important milestone in our mission to strengthen Karnataka’s AI ecosystem #BeyondBengaluru.”
According to the minister, the CoE will focus on developing practical AI applications across sectors including agriculture, healthcare, education, MSMEs and governance. The initiative is also expected to create opportunities for startups, industry, entrepreneurs and students in North Karnataka.
“The CoE will expand access to AI-driven research, skilling, innovation and entrepreneurship across tier-2 and tier-3 regions while serving as a regional AI hub for North Karnataka,” he stated.
Kharge added that the centre would help strengthen Karnataka’s AI leadership while ensuring that innovation extends beyond the state’s capital.
“More importantly, it will develop practical AI solutions for sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, MSMEs and governance while creating new opportunities for industries, entrepreneurs and young innovators. Foundational initiatives like these will strengthen our leadership in AI while ensuring that the next chapter of innovation is written across every region of the State,” Kharge mentioned.
Karnataka’s #BeyondBengaluru initiative seeks to expand the state’s technology ecosystem into emerging innovation hubs by strengthening digital infrastructure, research capabilities and talent development across regions.
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