Karnataka launches an ambitious triad of IT, startup, and space-tech policies as Bengaluru hosts its most future-forward tech summit yet.

On a crisp November morning in Bengaluru, as the glass façade of the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre shimmered under the sun, the mood inside the 28th Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS 2025) was unmistakably electric. Founders rushed between halls, global investors gathered in tight huddles, and students clutching prototypes waited to be discovered. But the real spotlight this year wasn’t on the gadgets or the keynote speakers — it was on Karnataka’s audacious policy roadmap.

A Triple Policy Play, Designed for Acceleration

Karnataka chose BTS — a global stage with 60 participating countries — to unveil three powerful technology policies: the new IT Policy, a comprehensive Startup Policy, and the state’s first-ever Space Technology Policy. Together, they form a strategic blueprint that not only extends Bengaluru’s legacy as India’s tech hub but also decentralizes it across emerging cities.

The IT Policy 2025–2030 signals this shift clearly. With a nearly ₹1,000-crore outlay, the state aims to take tech beyond the capital — nudging companies toward Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubli-Dharwad, Tumakuru, and Shivamogga. Incentives span from infrastructure development to talent programs, including initiatives to bring global Indian technologists back home.

If the IT policy is Karnataka’s backbone, the Startup Policy is its heartbeat. With a ₹518-crore budget, the state has set an ambitious goal: nurture 25,000 new startups, with at least 10,000 emerging from beyond Bengaluru. It’s a bold push toward democratising innovation — from AI and biotech labs in Tier 2 towns to student-founded ventures in university incubation cells.

But the most futuristic of the trio is undeniably the Space Technology Policy. By aiming to create a 50,000-strong space-tech workforce and attract $3 billion in investment, Karnataka is staking a claim in one of the fastest-growing global industries — one in which India is rapidly emerging as a significant player.

BTS 2025: Where Policy Meets Possibility

This year’s theme, “Futurise,” feels apt. With 50,000+ visitors, 1,000 investors, and 500 speakers, the summit is no longer a tech expo — it’s a marketplace of ideas, capital, and opportunity. The “Future Makers’ Conclave” added a new burst of energy, bringing thousands of founders face-to-face with global mentors and VCs.

Walking through the buzzing exhibition corridors, one senses that Karnataka isn’t just announcing policies; it’s building momentum. It’s positioning the state not merely as India’s tech capital, but as a global deep-tech powerhouse.

A State in Transition — and in Ambition

Karnataka’s message this year is unambiguous: the next decade belongs to those who build, those who innovate, and those who dare to imagine beyond boundaries — geographical or technological. With its newest policy arsenal, the state isn’t just preparing for the future.
It’s architecting it.

Pic Credit: Bengaluru Tech Summit