New Delhi, April 17 -- Karnataka is doubling down on deep tech, responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI), and sustainable infrastructure as it gears up for the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2026, with the state positioning itself as India's innovation hub rather than joining a "race to the bottom" for investments.

Speaking on the sidelines of a BTS 2026 curtain-raiser in Delhi, Priyank Kharge, Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, said Karnataka has "funded over 1,300 startups" and remains "the startup capital of the country." The state's startup ecosystem is "valued over $300 billion" and ranks "number 8 in the world," he noted.

This year's summit, scheduled for November 17-19, is themed 'AI and Beyond'. Kharge said the Delhi ...