Karnataka Cabinet Approves AI Centre of Excellence and Tech Museum in Bengaluru

The Karnataka State Cabinet has officially approved the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence in Biotechnology (AI-CoE) at the Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB) in Electronics City, Bengaluru. Scheduled for completion over four years with a budget of ₹20 crore, the initiative involves partnerships with IBAB and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP). Minister Priyank Kharge emphasized that this move aims to strengthen the state's research ecosystem and position Karnataka as a leader in deep tech and next-generation technologies. Additionally, the Cabinet authorized the development of a Technology & Innovation Museum in east Bengaluru under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This project, located at the NGEF campus in Baiyappanahalli, carries a total cost of ₹100 crore, split between the State Government (₹49 crore) and private partners (₹51 crore). The approval also includes transferring a 51% stake in the Karnataka Technology & Innovation Museum Foundation to the Unboxing BLR Foundation. These decisions reflect the government's strategic investment in emerging technologies, aiming to foster innovation, startup culture, and public engagement in science and technology within the region.