Leaders Tech Talk: From "Cloud-Native" to "Edge-Native": Re-Architecting for India's Physical World

Karnataka’s Rs.600 crore push for Deep Tech sends a strong signal to founders and innovators. Bengaluru is gearing up to lead the next wave of global innovation.

Hear from our tech leaders on what this means for the ecosystem.

Mr. Sikhin Tanu Shaw,  Head of Information Technology - Siemens Financial Services- India said that Karnataka’s Rs.600 crore ($70M+) deep-tech fund is a strategic, high-leverage move that transforms Bengaluru from a ""software hub"" to a ""global IP creator."" By directly targeting AI, robotics, quantum, and sustainability, the fund provides critical patient capital for long-gestation projects that VCs often shy away from.

Ultimately, this initiative is a crucial investment ensuring that the next wave of unicorns are built"

Mr. Prasad T, Field Chief Information Security Officer - Asia-Pacific (APAC) - Versa Networks -  added to this saying that from a tech leader’s perspective, the real impact of Karnataka’s Rs.600 crore deep-tech fund will depend more on execution than headline size.
Deep-tech startups face long gestation periods and capital risk where private funding is often cautious.
If deployed well, the fund can bridge this early-to-growth gap and help companies scale from Bengaluru itself.
It can also attract global co-investors and signal long-term policy commitment.
That signal matters for anchoring advanced R&D and senior technical talent in the city.
At the same time, ecosystem growth cannot rely on capital alone.
Sustained improvements in city infrastructure are equally critical to Bengaluru’s global competitiveness."

Mr. Siva Subramanian Loganathan, Global IT Leader – Netapp shared his perspective that the real impact of Karnataka’s Rs.600 crore deep-tech fund will be in de-risking early, hard-tech innovation that private capital typically avoids. If deployed with patience and strong operators, it can help Bengaluru evolve from a services-led tech hub into a global source of deep-tech IP and frontier innovation.

Adding to this Mr. Kamesh Babu R, CISO – Subex, said that as a tech leader, I see this fund as a strong vote of confidence in the people building new ideas in Bengaluru. Deep-tech is hard, slow, and often lonely, and this kind of support can be the difference between a good idea staying on paper or becoming something real. Beyond the money, it tells founders, researchers, and global partners that Karnataka is willing to think long term. If done right, it can help Bengaluru grow from being known mainly for services to being respected globally for original, breakthrough innovation.

Mr. Maqsood Pasha, Director of Information Technology and Security - Ephicacy -  added to this That as someone who has spent years building and scaling technology teams, I’m genuinely energized by Karnataka’s bold commitment of Rs.600 crore to fuel the Deep?Tech Decade. For me, this is more than a policy announcement—it’s a signal that the ecosystem I work in every day is stepping into a new era of ambition and clarity. The focus on AI, ML, quantum computing, robotics, and advanced manufacturing underscores a future where Bengaluru doesn’t just participate in global innovation—it shapes it.

What truly resonates with me is the intentionality behind how the funds are allocated. The Rs.150 crore DeepTech Elevate Fund, the push beyond Bengaluru to empower regional innovation clusters, and the new incubators at IIT and IIIT campuses demonstrate a thoughtful, ecosystem?wide approach. This isn’t just money being spent—it’s capability being built, talent being nurtured, and long?term competitiveness being engineered from the ground up.

As a leader working at the intersection of technology and business, I see this as a pivotal moment. It reinforces confidence for enterprises, opens doors for founders, and strengthens the bridge between academic research and real world application. More importantly, it positions Bengaluru as a place where deep?tech dreams don’t just survive—they scale globally.

I’m excited for what this means for all of us building the next wave of innovation from this city. The future feels closer than ever.

Team IndiaIT360

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