Government of Karnataka Hosts ‘Bridge to Bengaluru 2026’ in New Delhi, Strengthening Global Innovation Partnerships under GIA 2.0

The Government of Karnataka successfully hosted ‘Bridge to Bengaluru 2026 – Dialogue with Diplomats’ in New Delhi today, marking one of India’s most significant state-led diplomatic engagements focused on technology, innovation, and global partnerships.

The high-level dialogue was led by Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Siddaramaiah, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Shri D. K. Shivakumar, Hon’ble Minister for Large and Medium Industries Shri M. B. Patil, and Hon’ble Minister for Electronics, IT, Biotechnology, and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Shri Priyank Kharge, along with other senior government officials and global industry leaders.

The event brought together Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and senior diplomatic representatives from over 80 countries, including 40+ Ambassadors and High Commissioners, with over 140 participants comprising diplomatic missions, global institutions, and senior stakeholders from industry and government.

The dialogue also saw participation from leading international trade and investment organisations, further strengthening the platform’s role in enabling government-to-government and business-to-government collaboration.

Diplomatic representatives from key partner countries, including Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Bhutan, France, Egypt, Malaysia, Japan, and Germany, among others, participated in the dialogue. Several ambassadors and representatives highlighted their strong and growing partnerships with Karnataka, noting how the state has enabled deeper

engagement with India’s innovation ecosystem through structured platforms like the Global Innovation Alliance (GIA).

Speakers emphasised that Karnataka has evolved from being a technology hub to becoming a global innovation partner, offering a unique combination of policy support, startup ecosystem depth, research collaboration, and market access opportunities.

Karnataka is home to 18,000+ startups and over 570 Global Capability Centres, reinforcing its position as one of the world’s leading innovation and R&D ecosystems.

A key highlight of the dialogue was the evolution of the Global Innovation Alliance (GIA 2.0) — designed to move from engagement to measurable outcomes.

Under GIA 2.0, Karnataka is enabling:

This approach positions Karnataka not just as a participant, but as a system integrator of global innovation ecosystems.

The dialogue reflected on the outcomes of sustained engagement built over the past year. Through initiatives such as GIA Mixers, Market Access Programmes, and international collaborations, and increased global presence at BTS 2025, Karnataka has strengthened trust-based partnerships with countries across Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, and North America.

These engagements have translated into increased investments, startup exchanges, research partnerships, and high-level bilateral visits, positioning Karnataka as a preferred gateway for global innovation collaboration in India.

‘Bridge to Bengaluru’ has rapidly evolved into a cornerstone platform for innovation diplomacy, enabling direct engagement between Karnataka’s leadership and the global diplomatic community.

This year’s dialogue featured strategic presentations on:

Diplomats actively engaged in discussions, signalling strong interest in co-creation, investment partnerships, and ecosystem integration.

The dialogue also served as a curtain raiser to the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2026, scheduled from November 17–19, 2026 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre.

Under the theme ‘AI & Beyond’, BTS 2026 is expected to bring together:

Positioning BTS 2026 as Asia’s largest gathering of AI and deep tech innovators, the summit will serve as a global platform for partnerships, investments, and technology showcase across emerging sectors.

Partner countries have been invited to participate through ministerial delegations, national pavilions, startups, research institutions, and investors, further strengthening Karnataka’s role as a global innovation gateway.

With the successful hosting of Bridge to Bengaluru 2026, Karnataka continues to strengthen its position as a trusted global partner for innovation, investment, and collaboration.

The dialogue reinforced a shared commitment between Karnataka and its global partners to move beyond conversations toward co-creation, co-development, and real outcomes.