K-Tech Innovation Hub opens in Jalahalli

Minister K J George on Monday inaugurated the K-Tech Innovation Hub (K-TIHubs) at Jalahalli.

George, who handles the IT, BT and Small, Large and Medium Scale Industries portfolios, announced three more K-TIHubs in Mangaluru, Shivamogga and Mysuru.

He said these facilities in tier-2 cities would leverage the existing manufacturing clusters and the local human resource available in the academic and industrial bodies. The intent is to engage with all stakeholders in the local ecosystem for the sustainability of these facilities, he added.

The K-Tech Innovation Hub is a Product Startup Incubator-cum-Common Instrumentation Facility. It is designed as a shared prototyping facility with co-working, as well as private office spaces and other amenities to catalyse the growth of innovators and technology-based product startups in the region.

The government intends to establish five such hubs across the state. These new centres will operate in a networked mode and will be linked to IKP’s Hardware Product Incubator, IKP-EDEN in Bengaluru. George said the government hoped establishing K-TIHubs across Karnataka will go a long way in reaching the grand goal of encouraging 6,000 product-based startups in the state as envisaged in the Startup Policy 2025.

The K-Tech Innovation Hub will give a boost to technology-based and product-oriented startups that require access to research and development and prototyping labs, specialised staff for assistance with design, help in sourcing of raw materials, design for manufacturing and most importantly, access to an entrepreneur community of like-minded hardware innovators and MSMEs.