Karnataka Cabinet Backs AI CoE in Biotechnology, Boosts Innovation Push in Bengaluru

It will be set up in partnership with IBAB and C-CAMP, focusing on leveraging AI for applications such as drug discovery, genomics, diagnostics, and precision medicine.

The Karnataka Cabinet has approved the establishment of an AI Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology in Bengaluru, alongside a major Technology & Innovation Museum project, signalling a continued push to strengthen the state’s leadership in digital health and advanced research.

The decision builds on Karnataka’s long-standing position as India’s leading technology and biotech hub, particularly in Bengaluru, which hosts a dense ecosystem of research institutions, startups, and global technology firms.

The Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), where the centre will be housed, has been a key player in bioinformatics research and skill development, while the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) has supported deep-tech innovation in life sciences.

The proposed AI Centre of Excellence will be developed over four years with a total investment of INR 20 Cr.

It will be set up in partnership with IBAB and C-CAMP, focusing on leveraging AI for applications such as drug discovery, genomics, diagnostics, and precision medicine, areas increasingly central to the evolution of digital health systems.

"Karnataka has consistently been at the forefront of technological innovation," IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge said.

Alongside this, the cabinet has approved the development of a Technology & Innovation Museum in east Bengaluru under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with a project cost of INR 100 Cr.

The project will come up at NGEF in Baiyappanahalli, with a majority 51% stake in the Karnataka Technology & Innovation Museum Foundation transferred to the Unboxing BLR Foundation to facilitate implementation.

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