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Information Technology Minister Priyank Kharge on Friday said the State will launch a Rs 100 crore fund to identify India’s top 50 AI companies.

Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry's two-day CII INNOVERGE 2025 event here held under the theme “Make in India, Developed India & Digital India,” the minister highlighted State’s leadership as a global innovation powerhouse.

"At the upcoming Bengaluru Tech Summit, we will unveil the Future Makers track to showcase 20,000 startups and launch a Rs 100 crore fund to identify India’s top 50 AI companies. Karnataka today is not competing with other states; we are competing with ourselves to create global solutions through innovation, skills and political will," he said.

According to Kharge, what sets Karnataka apart is its 3P model of People, Policy and Participation, which ensures every stakeholder, from academia to entrepreneurs, has a voice in shaping growth.

"We are investing Rs 1,000 crore to build innovation clusters across Mangaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad and Belagavi, ensuring that the benefits of growth reach every region," he added. "We must invest deeply in R&D, foster Centres of Excellence collaborating with industry, and create clusters where ideas move seamlessly from lab to market.”