Karnataka expands GIA to drive tech outcomes

Bengaluru: Karnataka is looking to turn its global technology partnerships into concrete outcomes, with its Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) initiative focusing on joint technology development, startup market access, research and investments rather than MoUs and delegations.Speaking at a GIA meeting in Bengaluru, IT minister Priyank Kharge said the initiative would focus on converting international engagements into measurable outcomes.“GIA is about moving from engagement to execution, from MoUs to outcomes, and from delegations to enduring partnerships. Ecosystem-to-ecosystem relationships will always outlast individual transactions,” he said.The meeting was held ahead of Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2026, scheduled from Nov 17-19.“Under GIA, success will not be measured by the number of delegations or MoUs alone, but by how many startups enter new markets, how many technologies are jointly developed, how many research programmes are launched, how many pilots become businesses, and how many investments and jobs are created,” Kharge said.The GIA network, launched in 2017, has grown from 10 countries in 2018 to more than 40 partner countries in 2026, with Karnataka engaging with over 90 countries globally.The initiative will focus on four areas — startup mobility and market access, institutional partnerships, global visibility and strategic engagement, and governance through a dedicated international desk.Karnataka is also developing the Global Innovation and Growth Alliance (GIGA), a physical collaboration space in Bengaluru for international startups, innovation agencies and institutions.The summit, themed ‘AI & Beyond’, is expected to draw more than 90,000 attendees, 25,000 delegates, 1,000 startups, 1,000 investors, 700 speakers and 1,800 exhibitors from more than 75 countries.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.