The Karnataka government is targeting to attract 500 new Global Capability Centres (GCCs), generate 3.5 lakh high-quality jobs, and create $50 billion in economic output by 2029 as part of its next phase of innovation-led growth, the state government said on Wednesday.The announcement was made during ‘KATALYST CONNECT: The Chief Minister’s Meet with Global Capability Centre (GCC) Leaders’, hosted by the Department of Electronics, Information Technology and Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka, in partnership with Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM).
The consultation, chaired by Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, brought together leaders from more than 150 multinational enterprises to discuss the roadmap for the state’s GCC ecosystem.The initiative, held under KATALYST: Karnataka’s Ease of Doing Business (EODB) programme for GCCs, aims to facilitate investments, address operational challenges, and strengthen coordination between companies and the government.
Ahead of the consultation, Shivakumar visited Target in India’s Bengaluru campus, the global capability centre of US retailer Target Corporation, where he interacted with the company’s leadership and reviewed capabilities being built from Karnataka across technology, artificial intelligence, finance, marketing, digital, supply chain, merchandising, and store design.The meeting focused on enabling Karnataka-based GCCs to take on larger global mandates across artificial intelligence, engineering, research and development, product innovation, and enterprise transformation.
Industry leaders also shared recommendations around talent availability, workforce readiness, urban and digital infrastructure, AI adoption, ease of doing business, industry-academia collaboration, and expanding GCC investments beyond Bengaluru.Karnataka’s partnership with Global Capability Centres has helped build one of the world’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems. Today, GCCs in our State are shaping global products, engineering breakthrough technologies and driving enterprise transformation. Our government remains committed to creating an environment where businesses can innovate with confidence, access world-class talent and scale globally,” said Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
IT-BT Minister Priyank M. Kharge said GCCs are evolving from delivery centres into global hubs for AI, engineering, R&D, and product innovation. “Our focus is on ensuring that Karnataka continues to provide the talent, policy environment and innovation ecosystem required for them to take on larger global mandates,” he added.
The consultation was attended by GCC leaders from global companies, including Google, Target, Intel, IBM, Anthropic, Nokia, Bosch, JPMorgan Chase, HSBC, Chevron, Philips, Novo Nordisk Global Business Services, Lowe’s India, Rolls-Royce, eBay, Snowflake, Ford, and others.Through initiatives such as the Karnataka GCC Policy 2024–2029, KATALYST, LEAP, Centres of Excellence, NIPUNA, and Beyond Bengaluru, the state government said it will continue to strengthen industry collaboration and build Karnataka as a hub for high-value innovation and enterprise capabilities.
