Mangaluru: A detailed vision document has been submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, outlining an ambitious plan to transform Mangaluru into the ‘Global Knowledge Capital’ by 2035.

The initiative, spearheaded by S Mohanadass Hegde, former KPCC secretary, seeks to position the coastal city as a hub for world-class education, cutting-edge research, and digital innovation, while celebrating its cultural heritage and linguistic diversity.

Key Highlights of the Vision

  • Upgrading Mangalore University to meet global standards and internationalise its academic ecosystem.
  • Establishing Global Research Parks in partnership with NITK Surathkal and leading private institutions.
  • Developing Coastal Knowledge Tourism Circuits that merge academic excellence with the region’s vibrant coastal culture.
  • Launching Tulu-Kannada AI Labs to promote regional language technology, translation, and digital tools.
  • Setting up the Mangaluru Innovation Fund (MIF) to support startups in EdTech, HealthTech, and the Blue Economy.
  • Introducing dual-degree and twinning programmes with international universities, along with multilingual digital learning hubs.
  • Creating Coastal Data Labs focused on marine sciences, climate change, and bioinformatics.
  • Implementing a Green Campus Mandate for sustainable educational development.

Employment and Economic Impact

The plan envisions the creation of over 1,00,000 jobs in the knowledge economy and skill ecosystem. Hegde highlighted that if implemented by 2026, Mangaluru could:

  • Host 1,00,000 international students by 2035.
  • Secure a place for Mangalore University among the top 300 global universities.
  • Foster over 500 international research collaborations.

Knowledge Gateway of Southern India

According to Hegde, the initiative integrates global education standards with regional languages, particularly Kannada and Tulu, fostering a multilingual and inclusive digital knowledge ecosystem.

“Mangaluru’s mission is to redefine its educational and economic landscape, blending indigenous knowledge with international excellence. These efforts will make the city southern India’s research and development hub and Knowledge Gateway,” he said.

The master plan also proposes setting up Knowledge Campuses in Moodbidri, Surathkal, and Ullal, with collaborations through MoUs with top global universities.