Karnataka to merge multiple events into one to strengthen Brand Bengaluru

Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge today said the state government has decided to hold a mega event, Bengaluru Technology Summit, instead of multiple events to strengthen Brand Bengaluru globally.

"Instead of having multiple events, we have decided to hold one mega event, Bengaluru Technology Summit. We want to bring all the events under one umbrella, to strengthen Brand  Bengaluru globally, which will act as a foundation to achieve  greater traction from international community," he told PTI.

The event will be hosted from November 16 to 18, with the focal theme "Ideate, Innovate and Invent." The decision has been taken after Nasscom members and industry captains including Kris Gopalakrishnan and Nagananda recommended merging one all events into one, Kharge said.

The summit's aim is to connect technology across all  industries because it is an era where technology is empowering  across sectors, he said. "Earlier, it was only about IT. Nobody at that time thought that technology will be put to use in all sectors and fields. Hence, it is all about technology, and we cannot act in silos anymore," he said. The mega event is expected to attract over 300 exhibitors showcasing products and technologies to over 10000 business visitors.

The IT conference will cover pertinent segments like Cloud & Big Data, Aerospace and Defence, Telecom, Electronics, Cyber Security, AVGC AR & VR, ESDM, GIS, Robotics & AI, Privacy and Piracy, Blockchain and IoT as well as Biotech conference on Oncology, Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs, Proteomics, Big Data and Analytics and IoT.

Kharge said it would cost Rs eight to Rs 10 crore to hold the event, which is as much money spent to hold multiple events. "Every year government spent Rs 8 to Rs 10 crore to hold multiple events. It would spend as much to hold the mega  event," he said.

The event is not going to be a regular trade show, but a show of investments, ideation, invention and innovation, among  other things, Kharge said.

"We want to reposition Bengaluru not only as the hub for  services, but also as hubs for ideation, innovation,  invention, investments, R&D and skills", he said.