Synopsis
The event was held at the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B) Innovation Centre and is part of the government’s New Age Innovation Network (NAIN), a flagship initiative aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among students across the state.The event, held at the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B) Innovation Centre, served as a platform connecting academia, industry, and government, enabling young innovators to gain visibility, mentorship, and pathways to commercialisation, the IT/BT department said.
The conclave is part of the government’s New Age Innovation Network (NAIN), a flagship initiative aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among students across the state.
Those present included Sujatha Mukunthan, vice president (research and technology) at Siemens Technology and Services; IT/BT secretary Manjula N; and IIIT-B director Debabrata Das, among others.
“Karnataka has consistently been at the forefront of innovation, and through initiatives like NAIN, we are strengthening this leadership by taking innovation beyond Bengaluru and into institutions across the state,” said Manjula N in a statement.
NAIN reflects the government’s focus on building a distributed and inclusive innovation ecosystem, enabling students and young entrepreneurs to work on areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), deeptech, and sustainability, the statement said.
“Our students are not just learning technology; they are creating solutions with the potential to transform lives and strengthen the nation’s resilience,” said Lakshmi Jagannathan, CEO, IIIT-B Innovation Centre.
Implemented by the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), the programme spans 76 institutions, including both engineering and non-engineering colleges, extending access to innovation infrastructure and mentorship beyond Bengaluru.
Under the initiative, students are supported with incubation spaces and labs within institutions and capital support for innovation infrastructure and funding for student-led projects and prototyping, along with mentorship, industry connect, and commercialisation pathways.
So far, more than 2,300 students have benefited from the programme, with over 600 projects funded, more than 400 prototypes developed, and 60 startups incorporated, alongside a growing number of patents and intellectual property (IP) filings, the statement said.
Building on this momentum, the programme is expanding further, with additional student projects being supported and increased investments in innovation and prototyping, it added.
