Karnataka Declares Next Decade Its ‘Deep Tech Decade’, Rolls Out ₹33-Crore Grants for Startups

Karnataka has announced a series of initiatives aimed at cementing its position as India’s deep tech and AI hub, with state IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge declaring the next decade as Karnataka's “deep tech decade”.

Speaking ahead of the 29th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2026, Kharge outlined a roadmap that spans AI, deep tech, startup funding, innovation infrastructure and international collaborations.

“Karnataka should and will lead India and the world in AI,” Kharge said, adding that the state would focus on building a robust deep tech ecosystem over the next 10 years.

Among the key announcements was the launch of the Innoverse Foundation, a new government-backed initiative designed to mentor revenue-generating deep tech startups and help them scale into globally competitive companies. The foundation will provide market access, capital connections and mentorship, while also opening applications for its Deep Tech Enabler Programme.

The state also reinforced its support for startups through the Elevate and Elevate NxT programmes. A total of 33 deep tech startups were selected under Elevate NxT 2026, with the government distributing nearly ₹33 crore in grants. Each startup will receive between ₹85 lakh and ₹1 crore to support research and product development. Notably, 12 of the 33 selected startups are women-led, highlighting increasing diversity in India’s deep tech ecosystem.

Kharge also announced plans for the Museum of Innovation, Startup & Technology (MIST), describing it as India’s first museum dedicated to showcasing the country’s innovation and startup journey. 

In a move to help startups commercialise solutions built on public data, the minister said the government would act as an early customer for companies developing products using government datasets. The initiative is expected to give startups a reference client while accelerating the adoption of AI-driven public services.

The announcements come as Karnataka prepares to host Bengaluru Tech Summit 2026, scheduled for November 17-19 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre under the theme ‘AI & Beyond’. The summit is expected to attract more than 1,800 exhibitors, 25,000 delegates and over 60,000 visitors from 75 countries.

The government also revealed two major international collaborations for this year’s summit. The India edition of ChangeNOW, the global sustainability and impact platform, will be co-located with BTS 2026. In addition, embedded world India, organised in partnership with NürnbergMesse India, will make its debut, bringing a dedicated conference and exhibition focused on electronics and semiconductors.