Despite possessing key ingredients such as smooth traffic, coastal beauty, and access to talent, Mangaluru and Udupi in Karnataka have yet to realize their full potential as IT hubs. Stakeholders cite several factors hindering their growth, including a lack of innovation ecosystem, perception issues, and inadequate policy support.
Current IT Landscape:
While notable IT players like Infosys and Tech Mahindra have established offices, challenges persist in branding and fostering a conducive environment for startups and collaboration.
Stakeholder Perspectives:
- Rohit Bhat, CEO of 99Games: Emphasizes the need for better branding and incentives to harness the entrepreneurial spirit and infrastructure growth in the region.
- Mohammed Hanif, CTO of Novigo Solution: Calls for inviting major IT firms to Mangaluru to bolster its brand and create a vibrant innovation ecosystem akin to Silicon Valley.
- Sridharan Kesavan, VP of Total Quality Management at Robosoft Technologies: Highlights the appeal of Udupi’s quality of life and suggests incentivizing growth through tax breaks and supportive policies.
- Utkarsh Sinha, MD of Bucolic Kailash Agritech and FMCG: Shares his positive experience establishing a startup in Mangaluru due to lower operating costs and conducive environment for research and development.
Infrastructure Development:
Significant strides are being made in building IT-friendly infrastructure, with projects underway to add 4-5 IT parks in the region, supported by real estate developments catering to IT needs.
Talent Pipeline:
The coastal districts boast a robust talent pool, producing thousands of engineers annually and fostering numerous startups across various sectors, with a focus on adapting to emerging technologies like AI and cybersecurity.
Conclusion:
While challenges persist, the concerted efforts of stakeholders and conducive ecosystem development could propel Mangaluru and Udupi into prominent IT hubs, unlocking their full potential and contributing significantly to Karnataka’s technology landscape.
