Karnataka government kicks off preparations for BTS 2026 with industry dialogue in New Delhi, aiming to strengthen collaboration, attract global stakeholders, and shape the future of AI, deeptech, and emerging technologies.
The 29th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2026 is set to take place from November 17 to 19 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) under the theme ‘AI & Beyond’, positioning itself as one of Asia’s largest integrated technology events.
As part of the lead-up to the summit, the Government of Karnataka organised an Open Dialogue with Industry in New Delhi, bringing together stakeholders from the Delhi-NCR technology ecosystem. The event was attended by Priyank Kharge, Minister for Information Technology & Biotechnology and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, who engaged with industry leaders on emerging opportunities and challenges.
The dialogue saw participation from startup founders, investors, industry leaders, and R&D stakeholders across sectors such as IT, deeptech, electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM), and life sciences. Representatives from industry bodies including STPI, NASSCOM, IESA, TiE, IVCA, and ABLE also contributed to discussions, highlighting trends across artificial intelligence, semiconductors, fintech, electric mobility, and digital infrastructure.
Industry dialogue sets the tone
During the session, Kharge emphasised Karnataka’s position as a global innovation hub and invited industry stakeholders to actively contribute to shaping the next phase of technological growth through BTS 2026.
Senior officials and industry leaders, including N Manjula, Secretary of the Department of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, and Ateesh Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary at DPIIT, also shared insights on India’s evolving technology landscape.
Other speakers included Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon Group, Arvind Kumar of Software Technology Parks of India, and Debjani Ghosh of NITI Aayog, underlining the collaborative approach between government and industry in driving innovation.
Expanding scale and global reach
BTS 2026 is expected to host over 1,800 exhibitors, 25,000 delegates, and more than 1,000 startups, alongside 60,000 business visitors from over 75 countries. The summit will feature 16 thematic tracks covering areas such as AI and deeptech, fintech, health and biotech, spacetech, and global collaboration, along with emerging domains like data centres, circular economy, and electric mobility.
A major highlight this year will be the co-location of the inaugural Embedded World India, organised in partnership with NuernbergMesse India. The initiative will focus on electronics and semiconductors, strengthening ties between global hardware innovation and India’s growing semiconductor ecosystem.
The summit will also host a large-scale exhibition, investor connect programmes, and curated networking platforms. The ‘Future Makers’ initiative will spotlight high-potential startups through pitching sessions, mentoring clinics, and dedicated discussions on scaling and fundraising.
With its expanded agenda and global participation, BTS 2026 aims to drive innovation, foster partnerships, and reinforce Karnataka’s standing as a key hub in the global digital economy.
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