In a major push to decentralize Karnataka’s technology footprint and nurture innovation across North Karnataka, the state government has officially approved the establishment of two Global Technology Centres (GTCs) in Belagavi and Hubballi.
The initiative, rolled out under the state’s flagship Local Economy Accelerator Programme (LEAP), is designed to provide regional startups, youth, and emerging tech enterprises with plug-and-play infrastructure and vital ecosystem support closer to home.
Announcing the approval, Minister for Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Priyank Kharge, emphasized that the state’s technological prowess can no longer stay confined to the state capital.
“Karnataka’s technology capabilities cannot be limited to Bengaluru alone,” Kharge stated. “There is a pressing need to nurture the talent and entrepreneurship emerging across different regions of the state. The establishment of GTCs in Belagavi and Hubballi will unlock substantial new opportunities for local youth, startups, and technology-driven enterprises in North Karnataka.”
Centre Specifications & Infrastructure Blueprint
Both centres will occupy prime institutional footprints and will be implemented through a multi-agency framework:
- Belagavi GTC: Spanning approximately 10,000 sq. ft., this facility will be housed on the campus of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU). It has been approved at a project outlay of ₹82.80 lakh covering an operational runway of three years.
- Hubballi GTC: Also covering roughly 10,000 sq. ft., this centre will be set up inside the Hubballi IT Park on rent-free premises. Backed by an investment of ₹5.80 crore over three years, the outlay includes ₹4.90 crore toward capital expenditure and ₹90 lakh for operational costs.
Implementation Framework:
- Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) will serve as the nodal implementing agency for both locations.
- Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL) has been tasked with civil and infrastructure development works.
- Plug-and-play facilities align with the roadmap first laid out through KEONICS in the 2025–26 State Budget.
Financed Under LEAP’s ₹1,000-Crore Vision
The expenditure for the twin facilities will be drawn directly from the “Creation of Incubators & Accelerators” vertical of the LEAP framework, which holds a dedicated allocation of ₹110 crore.
Overall, the LEAP initiative commands an outlay of ₹1,000 crore over five years, backed by a first-year government commitment of ₹200 crore to build cluster-based economic drivers across tier-2 and tier-3 regions.
Bridging Academia and Enterprise
The establishment of the Belagavi and Hubballi centres is expected to create a direct bridge connecting regional academia, tech enterprises, and early-stage entrepreneurs.
By coupling premier technical institutions like VTU with state-of-the-art incubation infrastructure, the state aims to stem regional brain drain, spur local hiring, and position the Hubballi-Dharwad-Belagavi (HDB) corridor as a competitive innovation corridor rivaling established urban tech hubs.
