Bengaluru, 04 August (H.S.):Karnataka is aiming to become a global hub for deep-technology innovation by accelerating investments and research in artificial intelligence (AI), nanotechnology, biotechnology, quantum technologies and semiconductors, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Tuesday.

Inaugurating the 14th edition of Bangalore Nano India, the State government-sponsored annual nanotechnology exposition in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said Karnataka would build on its established technology and innovation ecosystem to lead the next phase of deep tech-driven growth in India.

The Chief Minister said the future of technological leadership would increasingly be determined by the convergence of multiple scientific disciplines rather than advances in individual sectors. AI, advanced materials, biotechnology, quantum sciences and semiconductor technologies would together drive major transformations across industries, he said.

Addressing researchers, industry leaders, start-up founders and academicians at the event, Shivakumar called for greater collaboration between scientific institutions, businesses and entrepreneurs to convert research breakthroughs into commercially viable products and solutions that could benefit society.

He said Karnataka was determined to be at the forefront of the technological transformation being driven by rapid advances in AI, nanotechnology, biotechnology, quantum technology, semiconductors and advanced materials.

Highlighting the growing importance of nanotechnology, Shivakumar said it should no longer be viewed as a niche area confined to laboratories. Instead, it had emerged as a foundational technology with applications spanning healthcare, electronics, agriculture, mobility, defence, aerospace and energy.

The Chief Minister urged researchers and scientists to look beyond academic publications and focus on developing technologies capable of addressing practical challenges. The State wanted research papers to be transformed into commercial products and encouraged start-ups and innovators to develop solutions for real-world problems, he said.

Shivakumar said Karnataka already possessed many of the ingredients required to establish itself as a leading international destination for deep-tech research and commercialisation, including a strong scientific talent pool, research institutions, technology companies and a vibrant start-up ecosystem.

The government, he said, intended to harness these strengths to create stronger links between laboratories, industry and entrepreneurship.

With emerging technologies increasingly reshaping economies and industries worldwide, Karnataka would seek to position itself at the centre of the transformation by supporting scientific innovation and turning technological breakthroughs into scalable products and businesses, he added.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman