Several major IT companies, including Infosys, Cognizant and others, have already established their offices in the region.
It is known to all that Bengaluru is known to be the Silicon Valley of India, thanks to it being the country’s leading information technology (IT) exporter. The city overall has the highest number of startups coming up, and since the city is located on the Mysore plateau, the area is sometimes referred to as silicon plateau.
However, do you know, now Mangaluru and Udupi, are all set to leave Bengaluru behind to become the 'Silicon Beaches Of India'? Despite their coastal charm and its infrastructure, the towns are attracting IT investments, and are establishing themselves as significant IT hubs. Several key IT players are now setting up satellite offices in the region, and real estate developers are putting their money in the area with IT-friendly infrastructure. Moreover, the towns are now overcoming the challenges, like branding or lack of policy support, to come up with an ecosystem for innovation. The towns are finally realising the region's IT potential.
The two coastal cities in Karnataka are the next IT hubs of India, and are making full use of their strategic locations, good infrastructure, and massive talent pool. Over the years, Mangaluru and Udupi, referred to as the ‘Silicon Beach of India,’ have not attracted IT investments compared to cities like Bengaluru, but that’s finally changing now.
Stakeholders too have identified several factors, which were stopping them from being the IT hubs, and the reasons mostly were innovation ecosystem, branding issues, and inadequate policy support. But now, major IT companies, including Infosys, Cognizant Technology Solutions, and Invenger Technologies, have established their offices in the region. Tech Mahindra too has now opened a satellite office in Mangaluru. More tech giants are following suit by setting up their offices, thereby hinting at a positive uture for the region's IT sector.
Realtors in the area are actively investing in IT-friendly infrastructure in order to attract more IT companies. 4- 5 IT parks are already planned in the region for next year, further boosting the region's appeal.
Rohit Bhat, CEO of 99Games, recently highlighted the issues of branding and marketing of the coastal cities, and has raised solutions like mentoring, funding, and networking opportunities to make these coastal cities IT hubs of India.
Mohammed Hanif, CTO of Novigo Solution, suggested that big IT firms set up development centers in the region to attract more and varied companies.
The region's universities and colleges, which generate a huge number of engineers every year, should be tapped. With a growing focus on AI, robotics, and cybersecurity clubbed with the available talent and the affordable living and infrastructure, it can be a robust IT companies and startups.
To say the least, Mangaluru and Udupi are now aiming to become the next technology hubs in Karnataka, and with the right support from the government and industry, the coastal beauties can emerge to be significant players in India's IT landscape.
