The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has urged the State government to invest in infrastructure that will result in a conducive climate for innovation in the State.
Speaking at the inaugural of the ninth Innovation Summit here on Wednesday, CII president S. Gopalakrishnan “suggested” to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that the government establish technology incubation centres in at least 10 engineering colleges in Karnataka, seven of them in Bangalore. Mr. Gopalakrishnan said the IT Investment Region (ITIR) near Bangalore should be developed into a manufacturing and research and development hub. “However, the government must invite foreign universities to establish research facilities within the ITIR,” he said. “The government must also examine the possibility of extending the metro project to the ITIR,” Mr. Gopalakrishnan said.
Policy support
Mr. Siddaramaiah said Bangalore’s status as the fourth biggest technology cluster in the world — after Silicon Valley, Boston and London — was made possible by suitable policy support. He pointed out that Software Technology Parks of India scheme and the provision of an “exclusive” satellite gateway in Electronic City, as examples of state support for the industry.
Bond on visa applicants
Referring to the move by the United Kingdom to levy a bond on visa applicants, British Deputy High Commissioner in India Ian Felton said the scheme was targeted only at a small percentage of high-risk applicants. “Most people who need a visa to travel to the U.K. will get them,” he said, while addressing the summit.
He pointed out that 97 per cent of Indians who apply for a business visa get them. “Intra-company transfers [of personnel] proceed smoothly,” he said.
The UK Technology Strategy Board, the main channel through which the U.K. government supports business-led technology and innovation, and the Indian Global Innovation and Technology Alliance, a joint CII and Department of Science and Technology, would call for joint research proposals later this month, Mr. Felton said. “Over the next few years, the TSB will invest over £1 billion in high-technology sectors,” he added.
