The Government of Karnataka’s Department of Electronics, IT and Biotechnology (IT-BT) has unveiled the Local Economy Accelerator Programme (LEAP), a five-year initiative with an outlay of ₹1,000 crore aimed at strengthening the state’s innovation ecosystem.
The scheme is expected to create 5 lakh jobs while supporting entrepreneurs across all stages — from students exploring innovation to startups scaling into larger markets.
Focus Beyond Bengaluru
While Bengaluru continues to dominate as a global tech hub, ranked 10th in the StartupBlink 2025 index and 14th in the Startup Genome 2025 report, LEAP will extend opportunities to other regions of Karnataka.
Regional Innovation Clusters
The identified clusters include:
- Mysuru–Chamarajanagar
- Mangaluru–Udupi
- Hubballi–Belagavi–Dharwad
- Tumakuru
- Kalaburagi
- Shivamogga
These regions will see targeted infrastructure, mentorship programs, and funding opportunities to build strong startup ecosystems.
Key Implementation Steps
- Setting up Innovation Labs across the state.
- Hosting hackathons, bootcamps, and regional innovation events.
- Establishing Centres of Excellence, incubators, accelerators, and prototype labs.
- Offering digital clinics, compliance support, and plug-and-play labs for early-stage ventures.
Funding and Startup Support
- Creation of a Fund of Funds to improve access to venture capital in emerging clusters.
- Grants to support deep-tech startups.
- Additional incentives for startups to expand beyond Bengaluru.
Summary:
Karnataka has launched the ₹1,000 crore LEAP scheme to expand innovation across the state, aiming to create 5 lakh jobs over five years. By nurturing regional startup clusters in Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi, Tumakuru, Kalaburagi, and Shivamogga, the programme will provide funding, labs, incubators, and mentorship, ensuring the benefits of Karnataka’s tech-driven growth reach beyond Bengaluru.
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