By R Anil Kumar
Bengaluru. Under the visionary theme ‘Futuriise’, BTS 2025 marks the rise of a full-spectrum, global tech platform designed for scale, speed, and strategic impact. This year, BTS reimagines how industries connect, offering a dynamic marketplace where buyers from diverse sectors engage directly with disruptive startups, agile SMEs, global enterprises, managed service providers, tech solution vendors, system integrators, investors, and thought leaders. From product launches to policy discussions, from B2B matchmaking to global collaboration, BTS 2025 is where meaningful business happens.
Karnataka is a leading contributor to India’s defence sector, with Bengaluru serving as a major centre for aerospace and defence research. The state is home to premier defence public sector units that develop fighter aircraft, electronic warfare systems, and advanced avionics.
Conference at BTS 2025: Igniting Futurise
As we stand at the edge of an era defined by exponential technologies and global urgency, the Conference at Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 embodies the spirit of Futurise – a call to rise beyond boundaries, ideate with purpose, and build future-ready societies.
Defence & Spacetech Tech Conclave
This highlights strategic partnerships in emerging tech, featuring influential voices from government, industry, and think tanks driving innovation and cooperation. It provides a platform to discover how technology is shaping the future of defence and space domains with insights on innovations, partnerships and global trends.
‘Karnataka the Aerospace and Defence capital of India’
With the country’s 65 per cent defence and aerospace contribution coming from Karnataka, it remains the undisputed aerospace and defence capital of India,contributing 67 per cent of all aircraft and helicopter manufacturing for the Defence services and accounting for 65 per cent ofthe country’s aerospace exports. Supported by over 2,000 SMEs — comprising roughly 70 per cent of India’s supplier base for niche sub-contracting to Defence PSUs — the state’s ecosystem spans established clusters in Bengaluru and other growing hubs. Building on this robust foundation, Karnataka aims to attract Rs 45,000 crore in aerospace and defence investments by 2027, and generating around 60,000 jobs.
Private enterprises are driving Karnataka’s aerospace and defence innovation through landmark manufacturing and space technology achievements.Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus have together established India’s first privately led final assembly line for the H125 helicopter in Kolar, Karnataka.
Pixxel, a Bengaluru‐based hyperspectral imaging startup, secured a slot on NASA’s $476 million Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Program,positioning itself as the sole Indian firm selected to supply high‐resolution Earth observation data for both environmental monitoring and defence applications.
Karnataka actively promotes private sector involvement by facilitating access to testing infrastructure, incubation support, and collaborative partnerships with premier research institutions.
As a result, Karnataka’s private aerospace firms are increasingly integrated into global supply chains, exemplifying how strategic support and industry–academic collaborations can translate homegrown expertise into world-class defence solutions.
Strategic Location and Infrastructure
Karnataka’s strategic location and robust infrastructure make it an ideal destination for aerospace ventures.
Why Karnataka is the Right Fit for Your Aerospace Expansion Plans
Karnataka has firmly established itself as a pivotal player in India’s aerospace and defence sector, offering a conducive environment for businesses aiming to expand their operations. With Bengaluru at its core, the state has become a global hub for aerospace manufacturing, research, and development.
Innovation and Technology Ecosystem
As the “Silicon Valley of India,” Karnataka boasts a thriving innovation and technology ecosystem. The state is home to numerous research institutions, startups, and established companies that contribute to a dynamic environment conducive to technological advancements in the aerospace sector.
This ecosystem fosters collaboration and innovation, providing aerospace companies with access to cutting-edge technologies and a skilled talent pool. The availability of industrial warehouses in Karnataka further supports operational scalability for growing aerospace businesses.
On space technology, Karnataka’s distinctive policy covering both upstream and downstream sectors, alongside a dedicated Centre of Excellence and manufacturing capacity. “No other ecosystem in India offers this combination,”
Karnataka plays a significant role in India’s space sector, particularly as a hub for innovation and manufacturing.
The state is home to ISRO’s UR Rao Satellite Centre, as well as a large number of space-related industries and startups.
Karnataka aims to further solidify its position as a leader by attracting investment, fostering research and development, and promoting commercial space activities.
Key Contributions:
ISRO Presence:
Karnataka hosts ISRO’s UR Rao Satellite Centre, a major facility for satellite development and testing.
NewSpace Ecosystem:
Bengaluru is a focal point for private space companies and startups, attracting significant investments.
MSME Network:
A large number of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Karnataka serve as vendors to ISRO, contributing to the supply chain.
Space Technology Policy
Karnataka has a draft Space Technology Policy aimed at attracting investments, fostering innovation, and expanding the state’s share of the national and global space economy.
Centre of Excellence:
A Centre of Excellence for Space Technologies is being established in collaboration with Satcom Industry Association-India (SIA-India) to promote research, development, and testing in the sector.
Vision for the Future:
Karnataka aims to capture a significant portion of India’s projected space economy and a share of the global market.
Collaboration:
The state is actively collaborating with IN-SPACe and other stakeholders to realize its vision for the space sector.
Ecosystem Strength:
Karnataka possesses a strong ecosystem comprising government, private, and MSME players across the space sector value chain.
The draft Space Technology Policy focuses on supporting startups and MSMEs through grants, equity funding, and other incentives.
The state is also working on creating testing centres and infrastructure to support spacemanufacturing
The Unparallel ecosystem places Karnataka as the undisputed aerospace and defence capital of India.
