Karnataka Budget: Siddaramaiah govt provides Rs 2.47 bn for IT, biotech

The CM, who also holds the finance portfolio, said Rs 10 million grant would be given to science and technology department to provide scholarship

The Siddaramaiah government has provided an outlay of Rs 2.47 billion to information technology, biotechnology and science and technology departments in the state Budget for 2018-19.

The chief minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, said Rs 10 million grant would be given to science and technology department to provide scholarship for research students.

The government also proposed to establish a mini 3-D  planetarium in Belagavi at a cost of Rs 30 million. 

Announcing a flurry of new schemes for 2018-19 in these sectors, Siddaramaiah said an incubation center would be set up at Kalaburagi in association with Deshpande Foundation for Rs 50 million to promote start-ups in Karnataka.

Siddaramaiah said the Karnataka Innovation Authority would be set up under his chairmanship to encourage innovations in different areas.

The government also proposed to launch new programmes to encourage development of the manufacturing sector and protection of intellectual property rights, especially for mind development institutions, entrepreneurs and startu-ps, he said.

“An archive of patents will be created so as to facilitate storing, corroborating and exchange of patents. This promotes innovation,” the Chief Minister said.

Siddaramaiah further said a ‘Legal Framework for  Innovation’ would be established to bring new and emerging technologies under a legal framework until an appropriate law is enacted.

“This will enable introduction of such technologies in Karnataka,” he added.

On the achievements of the government in the last five years in these sectors, Siddaramaiah said as many as 1,022 programmes have been assisted during this period.