The KrishiKalpa Centre of Excellence will significantly contribute to strengthening industrial and entrepreneurial growth in the Kalyana Karnataka region, Minister Priyank Kharge has said.

He was speaking after inaugurating the KrishiKalpa Centre of Excellence and the Vikas and Prerana programmes in Kalaburagi on Monday.

The event was jointly organised by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, IT-BT Department, the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board and KrishiKalpa.

Mr. Kharge said that nearly 18,000 start-ups have registered in the State underscoring the need for stronger support systems, including guidance, pilot projects and funding.

He said that the State government has planned financial assistance for 1,500 start-ups, with an estimated support of ₹50 lakh per start-up.

Highlighting the Beyond Bengaluru initiative, he said that the State is actively promoting start-up ecosystems in Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi and Kalaburagi.

He added that the State government is prioritising Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to ensure balanced regional development and entrepreneurship growth.

The Minister also noted that the State government is preparing support for deep-tech start-ups. He said that Mysuru has 402 start-ups, Mangaluru 332, Hubballi-Dharwad 463 and the Kalyana Karnataka region 282 start-ups.

A total of ₹1,000 crore is being mobilised to support start-ups across these regions.

Mr. Kharge requested support from the region development board for developing industry-ready human resources at IIIT Raichur, aimed at strengthening skilled manpower for emerging industries in the region.

He also highlighted the success of Kalaburagi roti which has gained international recognition and is being exported to countries such as Canada and the United States.

A recent three-year agreement with a Pune-based company will enable women’s self-help groups in Kalaburagi to supply around one lakh rotis annually, supporting women’s empowerment.

The Minister announced plans to establish an Agricultural Centre of Excellence in Kalaburagi which will be the first of its kind in India dedicated to the agriculture sector.

Referring to past industrial initiatives, he said that the proposed National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) in Chittapur taluk, over 22,000 acres, did not progress due to political set-backs, affecting industrial development in the region.

KKRDB Chairman Ajay Singh said that the government and KKRDB are committed to creating a strong ecosystem for industrial growth in Kalyana Karnataka.

He said that the KrishiKalpa Centre of Excellence and associated programmes aim to promote and support young entrepreneurs with enhanced funding planned over the next five to 10 years in line with the Govind Rao Committee recommendations.

Vikas and Prerana

The KrishiKalpa Centre of Excellence and the Vikas and Prerana programmes were launched in Kalaburagi in collaboration with the State government, K-Tech, Start-up Karnataka and the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission.

The initiative aims to promote entrepreneurship beyond metro cities, especially in Kalyana Karnataka.

Prerana is a 12-week pre-incubation programme, while Vikas offers 12-month incubation support for select start-ups, along with mentoring, funding access and ecosystem development to strengthen regional innovation and job creation.