24th Edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2021 announced, to be inaugurated by Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Hon’ble Vice President of India

The 3-day summit to be held in a hybrid format
More than 30 countries expected to participate
India-USA Tech Conclave in Association with USIBC, Bengaluru Next, India Innovation Alliance, some of the key highlights of this year’s tech summit

Bengaluru: The Department of Electronics, IT, Bt and S&T of the Government of Karnataka and Software Technology Parks of India along with KDEM announced the24^th edition of their flagship event BENGALURU TECH SUMMIT 2021 – BTS2021 in a curtain raiser event this afternoon. Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan, Hon’ble Minister for Electronics, IT, Bt and S&T, Higher Education, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood,
Govt. of Karnataka, Shri B.V Naidu, Chairman, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission and others attended the event, Shri S. Gopalakrishnan (Kris), Co-Founder, Infosys, Chairman, Axilor Venture and Chairman, Karnataka Vision Group on Information Technology, Dr. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Executive Chairperson and Managing Director, Biocon and Chairperson, Karnataka Vision Group on Biotechnology.

Themed “DRIVING THE NEXT”, the flagship event scheduled from November 17 – November 19, 2021 will follow a hybrid format that aims to highlight the role of digital and technological innovations that nurtured the growth of multiple sectors in the next normal, post-pandemic world. The event will mark the convergence of global tech leaders, Indian corporates and start-ups from IT, Deep Tech and Biotech to demonstrate disruptive technologies, forging partnerships and alliances. Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Hon’ble Vice President of India will inaugurate the summit and address the gathering.

Taking a cue from the Beyond Bengaluru mission of recognising cities other than Bengaluru for technology, talent and innovation, the KDEM organised three successful pre-BTS events in the clusters of Hubbali, Mysuru and Mangaluru that also attracted industry leaders and organisations.

Inaugural Function of BTS2021: 17 November,2021, presided by Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot, Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka, Shri Basavaraj Bommai, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Communications, Electronics & Information Technology; Minister of Railways; Shri Rajeev Chandrashekhar, Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India and Dr C. N. Ashwath Narayan, Minister for Electronics, IT & BT, Science and Technology, Higher Education, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, Government of Karnataka.

Speaking on the occasion of the curtain raiser event, Shri B V Naidu, Chairman, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission said, “It gives me great pleasure to be at the curtain raiser of the 24^th Bengaluru Tech Summit 2021. Despite testing times, this 24-year-old event has garnered tremendous enthusiasm from industry giants and global tech leaders, this year, the event is different in more than many ways. For the first time, the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission, as part of its Beyond Bengaluru mission, organised precursor events in three clusters of Mysuru, Mangaluru and Hubli. This was organised with the aim of promoting these clusters to promote talent, employment, growth in these clusters which can become significant contributors to the industry and country’s economy.”

BTS2021 is expected to see participation of international dignitaries like Prof. Klaus Schwab, Founder and Chairman, World Economic Forum and Mr. Martin Schroeter, Chief Executive Officer, Kyndryl along with Senior Ministers from the Central and State Governments with international industry captains, government officials, Nobel Laureates and Visionary Leaders.

Addressing the media and dignitaries at the Curtain Raiser event, Dr C.N. Ashwath Narayan, Hon’ble Minister for Electronics, IT, Bt and S&T, Higher Education, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood, Government of Karnataka said, “Bengaluru Tech Summit is a landmark trendsetter event globally and has become India’s leading technology summit to show how the ‘Beyond Bengaluru mission is actually propagating beyond expectations. This year, as the nation and the world prepare to progress in a post-pandemic scenario, technology will play an even more critical and all-pervasive role that is vital in supporting the successful functioning of sectors, industries and governments. Technological innovations are redefining the future and it is this essence which makes for the theme of BTS2021, ‘Driving the Next’. We are honoured to have Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Hon’ble Vice President of India to inaugurate the 24^th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit on 17 November 2021.”

Shri S. Gopalakrishnan (Kris), Co-founder, Infosys, Chairman of Axilor Venture and Chairman, Karnataka Vision Group on Information Technology said, “We witnessed rapid adoption of digital technologies during the Covid crisis. It is essential that industry and tech leaders come together to understand and strategize on the emerging opportunities in the IT field in the days to come. BTS2021 gives the IT industry the platform.”

Dr. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Executive Chairperson, Biocon Limited and Chairperson, Karnatak Vision Group on Biotechnology commented, “As we adapt to the New Normal, we have chosen to focus on the theme of the ‘Next Wave is Innovation’ for the Biotechnology track at BTS2021. We have curated sessions that will highlight the most recent technological and scientific advancements in the field of biotech like mRNA Technologies in conceiving Vaccines, Gene-editing takes centre stage in Crop Regeneration & Gene, Cell Therapy drives new areas in Therapeutics. Vaccine Equity, showcasing India’s Vaccine Leaders, Immunotherapies including CAR-Ts and many other cutting-edge areas will be featured.”

Some of the prominent organisations participating at BTS2021 include Kyndryl, Infosys, Biocon, Razorpay, Robert Bosch, Telstra, Intel, NRW Global Business, Australian Government, Laurus Bio, DRDO and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation to name a few.

BTS2021 will witness participation of over 30 countries, more than 75 Conference Sessions, over 300 speakers, 5000+ start-up attendees, more than 300 exhibitors, 20,000+ Business Attendees and a digital reach to half a million tech enthusiasts. BTS 2021 is driven by the members of Karnataka’s Vision Group on IT, Biotechnology and Start-ups. BTS is the only event in India which has brought together India’s leading cross sectoral industry organisations like NASSCOM, TiE, ELCIA, IESA, ABAI, ABLE, CLIK and IACC on a common platform. This is for the first time that USIBC and AMCHAM are collaborating with BTS2021.