Thaindian News

Bangalore, Oct 18 (IANS) India’s premier information and communication technology (ICT) event began in this tech hub Tuesday, with a focus on innovation and research and development (R&D;) to drive the next wave of the knowledge economy.

Inaugurating the 14th edition of the ‘Bangalore IT.biz 2011′, former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said the Indian IT industry should broaden its vision to become a knowledge system powerhouse instead of just a software major.

“To achieve global operations, the Indian IT sector should introduce virtual platforms for development of knowledge products based on national experience in engineering design of multiple systems,” Kalam told about 500 delegates participating in the three-day event.

With ‘India Innovates’ as its theme, the trade expo-cum-conference provides a platform to foster an eco-system for innovation and position Bangalore as the R&D; gateway of India.

As the country’s innovation hub, Bangalore has emerged as the premier destination for a large number of global R&D; centres, multinationals and Indian IT bellwethers like Infosys and Wipro.

As a networking platform for IT, IT-enabled services, hardware and semiconductor sectors, the latest edition is showcasing innovators of products, technologies, services and delivery.

Noting that innovative IT players had been instrumental in placing Bangalore on the world IT map, Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda said the robust growth of the Indian IT industry was led by Karnataka, contributing about 30 percent of the country’s exports over the years.

Exports by software firms and back office operations (business process outsourcing) firms from across the state, primarily from Bangalore, contributed Rs.90,000 crore in value during the last fiscal (2010-11).

Of the 2.5 million working in the hi-tech sector, about 800,000 are employed in Bangalore alone.

“The state will soon come out with a policy on animation and gaming to give a boost to this promising sector, having prospects of reaching Rs.10,000 crore in next fiscal (2012-13) and strengthening the IT prowess of the state,” Gowda said.

Organised by the state IT department in partnership with industry associations, conferences will also be held on Aadhaar - the Unique Identification Number (UID) project, human resource and skill development.

The event will also hold a CEO conclave and present Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) IT export awards, Young Entrepreneurs’ Start-ups in Soaring Spirits (YESSS) and national rural IT quiz.

About 50 start-ups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are displaying their products and technologies in a special pavilion along with about 130 exhibitors across the sectors.

With Bihar as the partner state, about 10 states, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, are participating in the expo.