Bengaluru: In a major boost to the deeptech ecosystem, the Karnataka government has announced a new ‘Government First’ policy under which it will act as an early adopter and first customer for startups developing innovative solutions to address public sector challenges.
Speaking at the ‘Nasscom Future Forge – Charting India’s Deep Tech Architecture’ event in Bengaluru on Thursday, IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge said the initiative aims to encourage startups to develop technologies that solve real governance problems.
Government to support startup innovations
“If you are a startup and have a solution that will solve the problem plaguing the government, I will become your first client,” Kharge said.
Under the proposed policy, startups working in governance and public service delivery will be allowed to test their products using government datasets within secure sandbox environments. Successful pilot projects will receive government support and payment.
“If the pilot works, we pay you,” the minister added, describing Karnataka as one of the few states with robust digital governance infrastructure.
Focus on solving real-world challenges
The initiative will encourage startups to develop solutions for sectors including healthcare, mobility, agriculture, tourism, water management, cyber security, urban governance, and women and child welfare.
Kharge said collaborating with startups would enable the government to adopt innovative technologies much faster than developing them independently.
“It will take time for the government to build these technologies. By adopting solutions from industry partners and deeptech startups, this can become a real game-changer,” he said.
From e-governance to intelligent governance
The minister also highlighted Karnataka’s vision of transitioning from E-Governance to Intelligent Governance (I-Governance) by integrating artificial intelligence, data analytics and digital technologies into public administration to improve decision-making and service delivery.
He reiterated the state’s commitment to strengthening skills, research and innovation, stating that Karnataka’s goal is to “skill locally and work globally” while ensuring its workforce remains future-ready.
Kharge further announced that the government is refining its upcoming Sustainable Data Centre Policy in consultation with industry stakeholders. The policy will promote renewable energy adoption, efficient water management and environmentally sustainable infrastructure to support the growing demand for AI technologies.
Industry calls for stronger ecosystem
During the event, Radhika Viswanathan, Chief Operating Officer of Applied Materials India, stressed the need to build a stronger product-focused ecosystem for deeptech and semiconductor innovation.
She noted that India is witnessing increased investments, supportive government policies and participation from global technology companies, but emphasised that continued collaboration will be essential to strengthen the country’s semiconductor ecosystem.