Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has urged to establish a full-fledged US Consulate in Bengaluru, highlighting the city's growing relevance as a technology and innovation hub and its deepening ties with American companies and institutions.
Addressing at the inauguration of the QUANTUM exhibition on Thursday, Shivakumar said Bengaluru is home to over 1,000 US companies, 80,000 American citizens, 10,000 startups and a technology workforce of over one million.
“Bengaluru has earned a US Consulate. It is America's largest technology and innovation partner in India. We are asking for a full-fledged US Consulate, not just a trade office,” he said.
According to Karnataka CM, a permanent diplomatic presence would indicate the strategic importance of the India-US partnership and help deepen cooperation in technology, innovation, research, defence, space and aerospace.
“It will strengthen Bengaluru's standing and signal clearly to American companies, researchers and universities that this city is central to the US-India relationship,” Shivakumar said.
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He further assured that the state government would extend full support and work with the US Embassy to get rapid clearances.
“Visa services can follow in due course, when the US Government sees fit. It is the diplomatic presence itself that will reflect the true importance of the US-Karnataka partnership,” he said.
US Ambassador to India Segio Gor, IT, BT and Home Minister Priyank Kharge, Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh, Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw were present at the event.
Focus on Karnataka-US academic and innovation ties
Shivakumar also requested Gor's support in building partnerships in innovation and skilling with leading academic and innovation hubs in the US.
“Our objective is simple: to connect classrooms to laboratories, laboratories to startups, and startups to global markets,” he said.
Karnataka government plans to foster partnerships between its universities and top American universities and research institutions via joint research, curriculum development and industry-aligned learning, the state CM added.
The state would also seek partnerships with Centres of Excellence, incubators, accelerators and research parks in major US innovation hubs such as Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin and Pittsburgh.
“These collaborations will give Karnataka's startups access to world-class mentorship, advanced research facilities, venture capital networks and international markets. They will also let American innovators tap Karnataka's extraordinary talent pool, manufacturing capabilities and vibrant startup ecosystem,” he said.
Karnataka's quantum ecosystem
Speaking on Karnataka's quantum technology initiatives, the Chief Minister said continued collaboration between governments, universities, scientists, investors, startups and established industries was required for the development of the sector.
Bengaluru already had a growing ecosystem of startups and global technology companies, led by the Karnataka Quantum Mission, he said, highlighting that the state is building India's first Quantum City at Hesaraghatta. The city would be an ecosystem of research laboratories, he said.
As per the Local Economy Accelerator Program (LEAP), the Government has also established a Centre of Excellence in Quantum Artificial Intelligence and Computing at IIIT Dharwad, the first such centre outside Bengaluru.
He said quantum science would play an important role in the future of computing, communication, healthcare and advanced manufacturing.
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