K’taka govt signs LoI with Dusseldorf on startup, innovation collaboration

BENGALURU: (Feb 3) The Karnataka government on Tuesday signed a Letter of Intent with the City of Dusseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia of Germany, with an aim to deepen bilateral cooperation in innovation, startups, and technology-led growth, officials said.

The Letter of Intent (LoI), signed by the Department of Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, reflects a shared commitment to support startups and innovation-driven enterprises from Karnataka and the German city seeking to explore or deepen market engagement in each other’s jurisdictions, they said.

The LoI reflects a shared commitment to support startups and innovation-driven enterprises from Karnataka and Düsseldorf seeking to explore or deepen market engagement in each
other’s jurisdictions. The collaboration aims to create structured pathways for market access, soft-landing opportunities, institutional linkages, and ecosystem integration, building on the strong foundation of engagement under Karnataka’s Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) framework.
The Letter of Intent was signed in the presence of senior leadership from both sides, including Dr. Stephan Keller, Mayor of the City of Düsseldorf; Sharath Bachegowda,Chairman, KEONICS; Dr. Manjula N., I.A.S, Secretary, Department of Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology; and Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur, I.A.S, Director, Department of Electronics, IT & Biotechnology and Managing Director, Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS).

Commenting on the Letter of Intent,  Priyank Kharge, Minister for Electronics, IT & Biotechnology and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka, said “Germany is one of Karnataka’s most important global innovation partners. This Letter of Intent with the City of Düsseldorf strengthens our efforts to create structured, outcome-driven global innovation corridors—enabling startups from Karnataka to access global markets while fostering long-term institutional and technology partnerships.”

Dr. Stephan Keller, Mayor of the City of Düsseldorf, said “Karnataka is among India’s most dynamic technology and startup ecosystems. Through this Letter of Intent, Düsseldorf reaffirms its commitment to supporting innovation-led collaboration, enabling startups and institutions from both regions to connect, scale, and create lasting value across borders.”

Sharath Bachegowda, Chairman, KEONICS, added “Germany has been a long-standing and valuable partner in Karnataka’s innovation journey. This collaboration with Düsseldorf strengthens city- and state-level engagement, where real technology transfer happens. The focus on Industry 4.0, Health Tech and Green Technology aligns perfectly with the opportunities and challenges of the coming decade.”