New IT policy pitches for B'lore as R&D, innovation hub

Further, according to basic contours of the new IT policy, gathered by Deccan Herald from official and industry sources, the focus will be to promote Bangalore as new and emergent IT product hub to woo fresh wave of multinational corporations to set up shop. Besides, Bangalore will also be positioned as innovation hub specially focused on encouraging micro, small scale and medium enterprises.

The earlier Mahiti IT Policy of 2000’s goal was utilising IT towards overall objective of increasing employment, empowering educated youth with IT tools, besides usage of IT tools for better delivery of government services to citizen and ensuring pre-eminent position of Bangalore as country’s Silicon Capital. True to its vision, the policy, sources said, has served its purpose as a result of which Bangalore continues to retain pole position in IT sector.

Fiscal incentives mulled

Stating the revised IT policy would be christened with a new title if needed, sources said, it will address the challenges of changed scenario. For, the industry today requires different thrust to push forward its growth in both Bangalore and Tier-2/Tier-3 cities of the State, they said.  The revised IT policy aims at creating an ideal eco-system to make Bangalore business hot spot, capacity building and ensuring Karnataka’s leadership in outsourced IT services. Incidentally, sources said, the sector could look forward to fiscal incentives and concessions towards creation of clusters and hubs, for relocation of IT/BPO jobs in satellite towns and Tier-2/Tier-3 cities besides encouraging micro, small scale and medium enterprises.

Cambridge Clusters

Further sources said one other concept proposed is creation of ubiquitous multi-faceted and multi-connected Cambridge-type clusters embracing three major and pervasive technology platforms such as the information technology, biotechnology and materials/ nanotechnology.

The Cambridge Cluster also known as Silicon Fen, is a large cluster of high-tech businesses, especially related to software, electronics, and biotechnology. Besides Science Parks, Innovation Centres, Incubators & Accelators, it would also boast of seed and VC funds to catalyse several start-ups and early stage firms. Sources also said that with IT majors like Google, Microsoft already into product development from Bangalore, Bangalore’s new IT policy reflects special initiatives aimed at fostering product development activities in a major way.

It is understood IT Vision Group Chaired by Infosys Chief Mentor N R Narayana Murthy along with members of the Vision Group met with government officials to refine policy’s contours, milestones and immediate, medium term and long term vision plans.