According to Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, CEO of the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission, Karnataka currently contributes between 38 and 40 per cent of India’s IT software exports and hosts more than 20,000 DPIIT-registered startups.

The state is also home to:

• More than 400 GCCs and Fortune 500 R&D centres

• 54 unicorns

• Nearly half of India’s AI and semiconductor talent

• A planned $20 billion quantum economy initiative

Gupta said the next challenge lies in building inclusive growth beyond Bengaluru.“Responsible innovation ultimately means ensuring technology solves real-world challenges,” he said.The state’s focus is now expanding towards regional talent pipelines, deep-tech acceleration and broader access to innovation infrastructure across emerging clusters.

“On National Technology Day, the theme ‘Responsible Innovation for Inclusive Growth’ strongly reflects Karnataka’s vision of building technology ecosystems that are globally competitive, socially transformative, and deeply inclusive. At KDEM, we believe innovation must create meaningful opportunities across regions, industries, and communities, ensuring growth is sustainable, equitable, and future-ready. Karnataka today stands at the forefront of India’s technology economy, contributing 38–40% of the country’s IT software exports, 13% of India’s total exports globally, and 35% of the nation’s biotechnology market, while also accounting for 10% of India’s electronic industrial output. The state’s economy is growing at 10.2%, outpacing the national average, further strengthening its position as India’s leading innovation and digital growth engine.