Blab Tech
Mysuru Big Tech Show 2026 Wraps Up as Karnataka Pushes Tier-II Cities into Digital Growth
When the sun dipped behind Mysuru’s ancient skyline, the city’s digital ambitions came alive on the sprawling Infosys campus. Over two days, the Mysuru Big Tech Show‑2026 convened industry leaders, start‑up founders, policymakers and academics to sketch a roadmap for the city’s digital future.
The opening ceremony was a star‑studded affair. S. Selva Kumar, Principal Secretary of Commerce and Industries, and Manjula N., Secretary of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, joined B. V. Naidu, chairman of the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), and Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, KDEM CEO. The event also welcomed D. Sudhanva, Lead Industry Anchor of the Mysuru Cluster and Chairman‑MD of Excelsoft Technologies, and Avinash Menon, Managing Director of the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS). A fireside chat followed, featuring Dr. Selva, Dr. Manjula and Sanjeev Gupta as they discussed Karnataka’s digital economy and Mysuru’s growing role.
Dr. Manjula highlighted the state government’s intent to funnel investment into Mysuru and other Tier‑II cities, declaring the city a top priority under the ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ initiative. Dr. Selva added that Karnataka ranks second in the country for foreign direct investment after Maharashtra, and that Mysuru has become the preferred destination following Bengaluru because of its talent pool, improving infrastructure and a burgeoning electronics manufacturing ecosystem. He announced the launch of an Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) at Kochanahalli near Mysuru, spanning 252 acres of plug‑and‑play infrastructure and backed by the Union government. The cluster is poised to attract PCB manufacturers and other electronics firms.
KDEM CEO Sanjeev Gupta provided hard numbers to illustrate Mysuru’s digital economy. He said the city’s digital output currently sits at $1.3 billion, with a target of $10 billion in the coming years. Gupta noted exports of approximately ₹5,700 crore and more than 650 start‑ups registered in Mysuru. He outlined skilling initiatives, including the state’s corporate programme Nipuna, which has already benefited over 6,000 candidates and improved employability.
Looking ahead, Dr. Manjula expressed confidence that Mysuru will see substantial growth in IT, biotechnology and electronics over the next four to five years. She urged major research institutions to partner with the government in establishing centres of excellence. The event closed with a reaffirmation of Karnataka’s broader goal: decongest Bengaluru by promoting cities such as Mysuru, Hubballi, Mangaluru, Belagavi and Kalaburagi for investment.
Today, Mysuru’s digital economy remains on a strong growth trajectory, with the EMC project and skilling programmes underway. The city’s leadership has set clear targets for expanding its economic footprint, and the next few years will bring continued investment, infrastructure development and deeper collaboration between academia and industry.
The opening ceremony was a star‑studded affair. S. Selva Kumar, Principal Secretary of Commerce and Industries, and Manjula N., Secretary of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, joined B. V. Naidu, chairman of the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), and Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, KDEM CEO. The event also welcomed D. Sudhanva, Lead Industry Anchor of the Mysuru Cluster and Chairman‑MD of Excelsoft Technologies, and Avinash Menon, Managing Director of the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS). A fireside chat followed, featuring Dr. Selva, Dr. Manjula and Sanjeev Gupta as they discussed Karnataka’s digital economy and Mysuru’s growing role.
Dr. Manjula highlighted the state government’s intent to funnel investment into Mysuru and other Tier‑II cities, declaring the city a top priority under the ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ initiative. Dr. Selva added that Karnataka ranks second in the country for foreign direct investment after Maharashtra, and that Mysuru has become the preferred destination following Bengaluru because of its talent pool, improving infrastructure and a burgeoning electronics manufacturing ecosystem. He announced the launch of an Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) at Kochanahalli near Mysuru, spanning 252 acres of plug‑and‑play infrastructure and backed by the Union government. The cluster is poised to attract PCB manufacturers and other electronics firms.
KDEM CEO Sanjeev Gupta provided hard numbers to illustrate Mysuru’s digital economy. He said the city’s digital output currently sits at $1.3 billion, with a target of $10 billion in the coming years. Gupta noted exports of approximately ₹5,700 crore and more than 650 start‑ups registered in Mysuru. He outlined skilling initiatives, including the state’s corporate programme Nipuna, which has already benefited over 6,000 candidates and improved employability.
Looking ahead, Dr. Manjula expressed confidence that Mysuru will see substantial growth in IT, biotechnology and electronics over the next four to five years. She urged major research institutions to partner with the government in establishing centres of excellence. The event closed with a reaffirmation of Karnataka’s broader goal: decongest Bengaluru by promoting cities such as Mysuru, Hubballi, Mangaluru, Belagavi and Kalaburagi for investment.
Today, Mysuru’s digital economy remains on a strong growth trajectory, with the EMC project and skilling programmes underway. The city’s leadership has set clear targets for expanding its economic footprint, and the next few years will bring continued investment, infrastructure development and deeper collaboration between academia and industry.
