Karnataka govt to set up AI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru

The Karnataka IT department has approved the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence (AI-CoE), named CATS (Centre for Applied AI for Tech Solutions), to accelerate AI adoption, Industry 4.0 innovation, and digital transformation across sectors.

The Centre will be established at the KEONICS facility in HSR Layout, Bengaluru, in partnership with NASSCOM, with a total outlay of Rs 20 crore over four years.

According to a statement, the funding will follow a 40:40:20 model with contributions from MeitY, the government of Karnataka, and industry partners. The CATS AI CoE will focus on priority areas including artificial intelligence, robotics and automation, supply chain optimisation, and digital transformation.

The initiative aims to strengthen Karnataka’s innovation ecosystem by supporting start-ups, MSMEs, industry players, research institutions, and academia. The initiative envisages collaboration with global technology and industry leaders.

Over the next four years, the Centre is expected to establish advanced laboratories and testing facilities, support deep-tech start-ups, and facilitate proof-of-concepts, industry collaborations, and technology commercialisation.

Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge said, “This is Karnataka’s deep tech decade, and the CATS AI Centre of Excellence will be a launchpad for deep-tech start-ups and industry collaborations. By bringing government, academia, and industry together, we are building a pipeline from research to market-ready innovation.”

The key performance indicators for the Centre will include the number of start-ups incubated, prototypes developed, intellectual property filings, industry collaborations, and skilled professionals trained, with year-wise growth targets to ensure measurable outcomes.

The establishment of the CATS AI Centre of Excellence marks a significant milestone in Karnataka’s journey towards becoming India’s leading hub for applied AI, Industry 4.0 technologies, and deep-tech innovation, the minister noted.