Karnataka govt gives nod to AI Centre of Excellence, teaming up with NASSCOM to boost innovation and skills

The Karnataka government, on January 22, approved the setting up of an Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence (AI-CoE) in partnership with NASSCOM to speed up the adoption of artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0 innovations, and digital transformation across various sectors.

Karnataka approves setting up of AI-CoE with NASSCOM

The Centre, named CATS (Centre for Applied AI for Tech Solutions), has been approved by the Department of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology and Science & Technology.

It will be built at the KEONICS facility in HSR Layout, Bengaluru, with a total financial outlay of Rs 20 crore over four years.

Funding for the initiative will follow a 40:40:20 model, with contributions from the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Karnataka government, and industry partners.

Reportedly, CATS AI CoE will focus on priority areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics and automation, supply chain optimisation, and broader digital transformation.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening Karnataka’s innovation ecosystem by supporting start-ups, MSMEs, industry players, research institutions and academia.

The Centre will collaborate with global technology and industry leaders.

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Going ahead

Over the next four years, it is expected to establish advanced laboratories and testing facilities, support deep-tech start-ups, and enable proofs-of-concept, industry collaborations and technology commercialisation.

Priyank Kharge, Minister for Electronics, IT and Biotechnology, said, “This is Karnataka’s deep-tech decade, and CATS AI Centre of Excellence will be a launchpad for deep-tech start-ups and industry collaborations. By bringing government, academia and industry together, we are building a pipeline from research to market-ready innovation.”

Key performance indicators for the Centre will include the number of start-ups incubated, prototypes developed, intellectual property filings, industry collaborations and skilled professionals trained, with year-wise growth targets to ensure measurable outcomes.

The CATS AI Centre of Excellence is a significant milestone in Karnataka’s ambitions to position itself as India’s leading hub for applied AI, Industry 4.0 technologies and deep-tech innovation.

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