Bengaluru, 13 Nov 

The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday approved the Karnataka Space Technology Policy 2025-30, Information Technology Policy and Local Economic Accelerator Programme (LEAP), Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil told reporters.

The space tech policy will have five strategic pillars — skill development, investment, infrastructure creation, innovation, and adoption and awareness.

The Information Technology Policy has a budget of Rs 445.5 crore over five years. It aims to promote artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, quantum computing, green-IT, and cybersecurity.

Patil said the policy aims to boost growth in emerging cities such as Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Tumakuru, Kalaburagi and Shivamogga.

Under the Local Economic Accelerator Programme (LEAP), a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Defence Technology and Industry will be established at Rs 18 crore over five years. Dhaarati Foundation, IIT Dharwad, will be the implementation partner.

Rs 200 crore has been provided for LEAP, which aims to generate five lakh jobs. Innovation ecosystems will be developed in Mysuru, Mangaluru, Udupi-Manipal, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi and Kalaburagi.

Incubators, accelerators, Centres of Excellence, and Global Technology Centres (GTCs) will be set up.

A corpus fund of Rs 100 crore for DeepTech development and a Fund of Funds of Rs 300 crore will be established. Six CoEs will be set up outside Bengaluru.

A CoE in Quantum Artificial Intelligence and Computing will be set up at IIIT Dharwad under LEAP for Rs 18 crore. IIIT Dharwad’s Research Park Foundation will be the implementation partner.