In a major push towards decentralising innovation and strengthening the startup ecosystem beyond metropolitan hubs, the Karnataka government has inaugurated a state-of-the-art Incubation Centre in Kalaburagi. The initiative, launched under the state’s flagship Local Economy Accelerator Programme (LEAP), is a significant stride in the government’s ongoing #BeyondBengaluru mission, which aims to empower Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities across the state.

The announcement was made by Priyank M Kharge, Karnataka’s Minister for IT & BT, who stressed the importance of preparing regional cities for the future of innovation. “If Tier-2 and Tier-3 India aren’t future-ready, then the nation never truly will be,” Kharge remarked, underscoring the government’s commitment to fostering localised, inclusive economic growth.

With a financial outlay of ₹1,000 crore, the LEAP programme is geared towards nurturing innovation ecosystems outside Bengaluru by offering advanced infrastructure, industry mentorship, skill development in emerging technologies, and robust industry-academia collaboration. The new centre in Kalaburagi is a collaborative venture between the Department of IT & BT, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), and PDA College of Engineering.

The launch event, held at the Kalaburagi District Administrative Complex on April 9, also witnessed the signing of crucial agreements aimed at establishing both an Incubation Centre and an Offshore Development Centre (ODC). Deputy Commissioner Fauzia Taranum highlighted that the initiative aligns with LEAP’s broader objective of generating five lakh jobs across Tier-2 cities such as Kalaburagi, Hubballi-Dharwad, Mysuru, and Mangaluru.

As part of this initiative, a tripartite agreement has been signed between the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, KDEM, and PDA College of Engineering to establish the incubation centre, which is expected to support over 50 startups from the Kalyana Karnataka region. The centre will serve as a strategic platform to nurture entrepreneurial talent, boost employment, and promote digital innovation in the region.

Adding further momentum, a partnership has been forged with XCEL Corp, a New Jersey-based global technology firm. The company is expanding its research and development operations in Kalaburagi, thereby reinforcing its presence in India. XCEL Corp, a leader in areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), generative AI, quantum computing, and IoT, already operates R&D hubs in Bengaluru, Chennai, Belagavi, and Hubballi-Dharwad.

“Kalaburagi is emerging as a vital node in Karnataka’s tech ecosystem,” said Ms. Taranum. “Minister Priyank Kharge has played an instrumental role in bringing these developments to fruition, envisioning Kalaburagi as a cornerstone of Karnataka’s future economic landscape.”

Supporting this vision, Shashil G. Namoshi, MLC and Chairman of the Hyderabad Karnataka Education Society, noted that the incubation centre at PDA College would help retain local talent and contribute to the region’s industrial development.

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Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, CEO of KDEM, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to expanding the IT ecosystem across Karnataka, while XCEL Corp CEO Jit Goel expressed confidence in the region’s talent and potential for global innovation.

Dr. S.R. Patil, Principal of PDA College of Engineering, summed up the sentiment: “This initiative blends education, industry, and government support to lay the foundation for a new era of innovation-led regional growth.”

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