Karnataka Government in collaboration with the National Association for Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) announced the Karnataka State policy for Engineering, Research and Development (ER&D).
The policy was approved by the Karnataka cabinet. The first-of-its-kind policy intends to foster innovation and ecosystem, enhance MNC ER&D penetration in the state, enable the skill development required to address the critical and evolving needs of changing global technology landscape and evangelize “ER&D Prowess” to the world.
NASSCOM has supported the government in formulating the policy initiatives which will propel the R&D in Karnataka on an accelerated growth trajectory.
Speaking on the policy launch, Dr. Ashwathnarayan C. N., Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka said, “The new policies are focused on invigorating the R&D landscape in the state and enhancing its global competitiveness. We expect the new policies to improve the FDI inflows in R&D and provide a boost to the innovation & research ecosystem.”
Commenting on the policies, Dr. EV Ramana Reddy, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of IT & BT, Urban Development, said, “The new policies were drafted with a well-defined focus on stimulating the R&D industry within the state and creating an environment which encourages innovation. We are confident that with these new policies, Karnataka can establish itself as a global R&D hub and deliver exponential growth in foreign investments in R&D.”
Expressing her views on the policies, Debjani Ghosh, President, NASSCOM, said, “NASSCOM is proud to be associated with this high impact policy initiative focusing on fostering Engineering and R&D in Karnataka. We strongly believe that the new policies will provide a big impetus to the growth of the ER&D ecosystem within the state. The state of Karnataka has been the pioneer in creating a thriving ecosystem for R&D and these policies will further strengthen its position as the prime destination for Engineering and Research within the country. The new policy initiatives will provide a benchmark for other states to follow and would help India become a global hub for Research and Development.”
Speaking on the policy Dr. Ajay Prabhu, President, QuEST Global & Chair for NASSCOM Engineering, R&D Council, said “ER&D Policy is a giant step by GoK to make Karnataka a leader in Engineering R&D in this part of the world. Kudos to GoK & NASSCOM for conceptualizing this progressive best-of-its-kind policy”
CN Meena Nagaraj, IAS, Director, KITS, Department of IT and BT, said, “Karnataka is today contributing to over 40% of the country’s Engineering and Design revenues. These new policies will help us consolidate the position as the top destination for R&D investments in the state.”
In support of the policy initiatives, the Karnataka Government will also be setting up a “Go and See Center” in Bangalore to showcase the state’s R&D capabilities to prospective investors. The government will also be extending its partnership with NASSCOM for evangelizing the state’s R&D prowess on global platforms through events, roadshows and thought leadership formulation.