| | DECEMBER 20231917,879 are in Bengaluru, while 3,777 are outside Bengaluru. Today, Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Dakshina Kannada have 602, 244, and 237 start-ups, while Belgaum and Udupi have 355 and 213 start-ups, respectively. The BharatNet project will provide last mile connectivity beyond Bengaluru and boost growth in these cities. Since the launch of Beyond Bengaluru in 2020, more companies are looking to set up shop in Karnataka, which in turn has fueled the growth of unicorn startups and attracted nearly $ 7.5 billion in venture capital funds in the first half of 2022. The state is also the first to create artificial intelligence and cyber security services clusters in Hubballi-Dharwad and Mysuru regions. Learnings from these clusters can be incorporated, and the model can be replicated across India.Karnataka Working on Fintech StartupsKarnataka is working on a fintech startup program that aims to bring together the government, venture capital, and banking sectors to offer seed funding and mentoring support. The government also plans to set up a center of excellence (CoE) for fintech to nurture talent, leadership, and entrepreneurship and foster innovation, the minister said while addressing the three-day Global Fintech Fest (GFF 2023) that began at the Jio World Trade Center in Mumbai.Karnataka and its policies are aimed at decentralizing development on the principles of "Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas." The Beyond Bengaluru program is one of its kind when it comes to nation-building on the foundation of development for all. I am confident that this initiative will contribute not only to growth across sectors within the state but also to the expansion of the national economy by providing the right infrastructure for industries and businesses to flourish not only domestically but also globally.Space Sector and the PolicyTo tap its potential in the space sector and attract investment, Karnataka will come up with a space policy. The policy focus would be to support production, innovation, and research and development in this area. The policy also proposes to promote innovation and manufacturing with a focus on increased private participation, global collaboration, and partnerships. The policy will take a Beyond Software approach. The Karnataka policy will be based on India's Space Policy 2023, which formalized Isro's technology transfer to non-governmental entities and allowed private firms to operate independently in end-to-end major space activities. India's space economy could grow to $44 billion by 2033 from the current $8.4 billion. Karnataka's space ecosystem is best positioned to tap into it and eventually hold more than 40 percent market share of India's space economy.Contribution to Digital India ProgramsThere is no doubt that the next phase of India's growth, especially in the technology sector, will come from smaller urban environments and locals, even as more and more young people become part of the mainstream of development and nation-building. However, this transition will require robust infrastructure and ecosystems to help create and sustain opportunities.Working on a mission to go beyond metropolitan centers, the Government of India is bringing together its flagship Start-Up India and Digital India programs to improve infrastructure across sectors, be it connectivity, ease of living, health, education, or skills and upskilling. Digital India's BharatNet project aims to create a highly scalable network infrastructure to provide broadband connectivity to households and institutions in villages and remote areas. ESTABLISHING A MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLY, AND TESTING ECOSYSTEM FOR COMPONENTS, SYSTEMS, AND SUBSYSTEMS. IT ALSO FOCUSES ON THE USE OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE GOVERNANCE IN CRITICAL SECTORS OF GOVERNMENT.
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