Bengaluru. The Karnataka government has sanctioned four startup and research initiatives worth more than ₹27 crore to strengthen the state’s innovation ecosystem, with projects focused on startup acceleration, industry-academia partnerships, biotechnology infrastructure and medical robotics. The approvals were made by the state’s Information Technology and Biotechnology Department as part of efforts to support emerging companies and research capacity across Karnataka.
Startup Accelerator Planned In Mangaluru
Among the approved projects is the K-Combinator Startup Accelerator, which will be set up at WrkWrk in Mangaluru in collaboration with TiE-Mangaluru. The initiative has been allocated ₹9.26 crore over five years and is aimed at supporting startups in the Udupi-Mangaluru region.
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The accelerator will focus on helping startups at the proof-of-concept and minimum viable product stages. The move is intended to extend structured startup support beyond Bengaluru and strengthen entrepreneurship in the coastal region.
Industry-Academia Programme Gets Funding
The Local Economy Accelerator Programme has approved the Super 100 Industry-Academia Adoption Programme with ₹7.47 crore in funding over three years. The programme seeks to build partnerships between 100 industry players and 100 higher education institutions in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
The initiative is designed to improve collaboration between industry and academic institutions, with an emphasis on innovation and local economic development. By linking companies with colleges and universities outside major urban centres, the programme aims to widen the state’s innovation base.
Biotech And Medical Robotics Projects Approved
The department has also allocated ₹3.66 crore for the development of an Advanced Surgical Assistive Robot for neurosurgical applications. The project will be jointly executed by the International Institute of Information Technology, Bengaluru, and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences.
Another ₹6.80 crore has been earmarked for expanding infrastructure at the Centre for Human Genetics in Bengaluru. The expansion will accommodate the newly established Institute of Advanced Genome Editing and Gene Therapy and create about 1,500 square metres of laboratory space, including ISO-certified clean rooms and next-generation sequencing facilities.
