Karnataka Sets Up Applied AI Centre With Focus on Real-World Use

Karnataka has announced a new Centre for Applied AI for Tech Solutions (CATS), signaling a shift from AI pilots to production-ready deployment across industry and government.

The centre, housed at the KEONICS facility in Bengaluru and developed in partnership with Nasscom, will be backed by a ₹20-crore outlay with support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Karnataka government, and industry partners.

In a LinkedIn post, IT and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge said the goal is to move AI out of labs and into real-world use. 

“With CATS, we want to back serious founders, take research forward, move technologies into real deployment, and turn deeptech ideas into real businesses,” he wrote.

CATS will work with startups, small businesses, academia, research institutions, and global technology firms, with a focus on applied use cases spanning AI, robotics, automation, supply chains, and digital transformation. Target sectors include healthcare, governance, mobility, fintech, and smart infrastructure.

Unlike many AI hubs that focus on early-stage experimentation, CATS is designed to be sharply outcome-oriented, officials said. 

Skill development for industry-scale AI adoption will also be a core pillar, addressing one of the biggest gaps in India’s AI journey, translating research talent into deployable solutions.

The initiative aligns with the Centre’s broader AI push. The Union government has already announced three national AI Centres of Excellence in healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable cities, backed by a ₹990-crore allocation through FY27–28.

These centres are being led by institutions including AIIMS and IIT Delhi, IIT Ropar, and IIT Kanpur, and form part of the government’s vision to “Make AI in India and Make AI work for India.”

Together, the state and national efforts point to a more execution-led phase of India’s AI strategy, with emphasis on deployment, public value, and scalable outcomes.