Bengaluru: Chief minister DK Shivakumar Tuesday urged global capability centres (GCCs) in Bengaluru to move beyond back-office operations and make the city a hub for innovation, saying the “GCCs of the future should file patents, not merely close tickets here” as the state unveiled its plan to position the capital as a global deep-tech powerhouse.Launching Bengaluru India Nano 2026, Shivakumar said Karnataka’s next phase of growth would be driven by nanotechnology, AI, semiconductors, biotechnology, quantum technologies and advanced materials. He said the state would build an ecosystem that enables scientific ideas to move rapidly from laboratories to industry through stronger collaboration between academia, startups and businesses.“Today, nations are competing not merely for investments but for scientific leadership. Whoever leads in advanced materials, nanoelectronics, semiconductor technologies and AI-driven manufacturing will shape the global economy of the coming decades. Karnataka intends to be among those leaders,” he said.Seeking to redefine Bengaluru’s role in the global technology ecosystem, the CM said the city should evolve from being known primarily for software services to becoming a centre for high-value research, intellectual property and advanced manufacturing. “Bengaluru has put India on the world IT map. It is now time to put India on the world deep-tech map,” he said.Shivakumar said nanotechnology had moved beyond research laboratories to become a foundational technology with applications across healthcare, electronics, energy, agriculture, mobility, aerospace, defence and advanced manufacturing. He also urged universities and research institutions to focus more on patenting innovations and partnering early with industry.Recalling Bengaluru’s scientific legacy, Shivakumar referred to the 1893 meeting between industrialist Jamsetji Tata and Swami Vivekananda, saying their discussions eventually led to the establishment of IISc with the support of the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore.Hailing Prof CNR Rao, Shivakumar urged young scientists to pursue ambitious research and assured them of govt support. He added technological progress must remain human-centric by improving quality of life, creating employment, promoting sustainability and protecting the environment.
