Bangalore tech centre to train 10,000 students

A technology centre of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) ministry, to be set up at the Bangalore Aerospace Park on the city's outskirts, would train about 10,000 youth in job-oriented skills, an official said Saturday.

"The Rs.150-crore technology centre will train about 10,000 students from polytechnics, ITIs, (Industrial Training Institutes) and engineering degree colleges and assist about 1,000 MSMEs a year when fully operational by 2015-16," Karnataka MSME Director S.M. Jamkhandi told IANS here.

The ministry will be setting up 14 similar technology centres at a combined cost of Rs.2,290 crore in as many states across the country to train a whopping 140,000 students in skill sets required for MSMEs, manufacturing and processing industries.

"The technology centres will impart skill sets through short-term and long-term training programmes in precision tooling, design and development of moulds, dies, tools and equipment and testing and calibration, including consultancy in related fields," Jamkhandi said.

The state government has allotted 10 acres of land for setting up the technology centre, the first in the country, in the aerospace park near the Bangalore international airport at Devanhalli, about 40 km away and adjunct to the special economic zone.

"We have decided to locate the first technology centre near Bangalore, as it is also the capital of aerospace and electronic industries and home to many state-run defence research and development institutions and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)," Minister of State for MSME K.H. Muniyappa told reporters here earlier.

The technology centre, with testing and calibration facility, would not only facilitate development of precision tools required for the aerospace and electronics industries, but also the required manpower, especially for MSMEs in the Electronic System and Design Manufacturing sector.

"As a main tooling centre, the hi-tech facility will give access to latest technologies, provide skill upgradation and offer advocacy support for specific industries with high-growth potential," said MSME Additional Secretary Amarendra Sinha.

The technology centres will act as mother units and thought leaders to diverse sectors and space in which they operate.