Asia's Largest Technology Event, Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) is organized by the Department of Electronics, IT, Bt and S&T, Government of Karnataka and Co-Hosted by Software Technology Park of India (STPI) with its central theme "Driving the Next".  It has witnessed the coming together of global tech leaders, Indian corporate and startups from IT, Deep tech and Biotech deciphering the future, showcasing disruptive technologies, forging partnerships and alliances. Bengaluru has truly kept the world moving and emerged as the next Headquarter to the Global MNCs driving their businesses across continents.

BTS 2021, in its 24th edition, aims to give global audiences access to the best innovations, new products and cutting-edge ideas for building a collaborative, global tech community. Over the last few years, BTS has become the place of convergence for the leading cross-sector tech companies to startups, technocrats to young innovators, policymakers to investors, researchers to academia, facilitating dialogue and collaborations.

Basavaraj Bommai, Chief Minister of Karnataka, addresses Asia's Largest Technology Event, Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS), “Bengaluru, the tech capital of Karnataka is home to 400+ Fortune 500 companies. Most companies have high quality workforce working in Bengaluru – focusing on product development, IP creation and research and development. These multi-national companies and global in-house centres are substantial contributors to the State’s GDP. State of Karnataka and City of Bengaluru in particular is talked about as being the Startup Capital of India and one of the leading startup capitals of the world.” He also asserts on the new aspects of the summit:

• The India Innovation Alliance track has been launched in BTS for the first time to bring to light the innovative interventions created in India. India Innovation Alliance will bring together heads of 8 innovation centres from Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kanpur, Delhi, Bhubaneshwar and Panaji to exchange learnings and explore areas of co-operation and collaboration to accelerate innovations for public good.
• India US Tech Conclave is another avenue launched newly during BTS 2021. The Conclave will be held in association with US India Business Council. This programme will consist of two sessions focused on IT, Technology & Startups and Biotechnology addressed by stellar speakers from East Coast, West Coast and Mid America as well as India opening the new avenues of international cooperation in the areas of innovation and technology.
• Bengaluru Next Leadership Conclave has been launched to be conducted for the first time this year. The program will discuss the way forward and future for the city of Bengaluru, acclaimed to be as most dynamic. This will highlight how GCC’s will run in the post-pandemic world and how the Government can help support these Captive centres. The Bengaluru Next Innovators Conclave will be conducted to recognize and award emerging Biotech firms that have shown dynamic leadership, exciting technologies, and standout contribution in their chosen fields in biotech like Biopharma, Bio services, Agribiotech, Med-tech among others.

Naftali Bennett, PM of ISRAEL says, “Practical, innovation, creativity, and future are right here. You’re the leaders of tomorrow.” He emphasizes to visit India, and explores what the nation has to offer you.

M. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India, delivers a message through the platform, “People are coming together and bringing values. Bangalore is a happening place and PM Modi is focusing his attention to transform the system with technology, IT and BT.”

He adds, “Do your duty, it will be beauty.” Considering the Indian philosophy, Share & Care, he urges the people to share knowledge, new innovation, new ideas, and make the knowledge as the wealth of the nation.

He points out the necessities to generate employment, to create innovative operation and bring digital transformation.

He also mentions the mantra of PM Modi - Reform, Perform and Transform; transformation of system and nation for the betterment of the nation. He hopes that people will focus on these ideas in the coming three days and come out with wonderful solutions for the common good and prosperity of entire humanity. In other words he has called upon the entire fraternity to have a vision and mission which would realize the happiness of society.

Shri. Scott Morrison, Hon’ble Prime Minister of Australia, says, “We know that technology-leading nations will have greater economic, political and military power – and considerable influence on global norms and values – into the years ahead. India is a major technology power. And technology is at the forefront of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which Prime Minister Modi and I signed last year.”

“We’re also cooperating on space science, technology, and research – and Australia is proud to be supporting India’s inspirational Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission,” added PM Morrison.

Dr. E V Raman Reddy, Additional Chief Secretary, Deptt of E IT Bt and S&T, Government of Karnataka BTS, 2021, says, “Technology has emerged as a saviour-be it in fighting the virus, in resurrecting the crippling industries or in bringing together people in these challenging times. During this time, Bengaluru has truly kept the world moving and emerged as the next Headquarter to the Global MNCs driving their businesses across continents. BTS 2021 with its central theme "Driving the Next" will witness the coming together of global tech leaders, Indian corporate and startups from IT, Deep tech and Biotech deciphering the future, showcasing disruptive technologies, forging partnerships and alliances.”

Furthermore, he delivers words of thanks to honorable Vice President of India, Scott Morrison, PM of Australia, Naftali Bennett, PM of ISRAEL and Thawar Chand Gehlot, Governor of Karnataka.

Pawan Goenka, Chairperson of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), throws light on the theme and aim of the conference. Startup is one of the theme of the conference.

Indian government is especially a key to handhold the spaces startup and makes them strength of the Indian Space system. He mentions IT, as the third theme of the conference, backbone of the space application.

Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Switzerland, as a stronger believer in India says, “India has potential to shape global technological and economic agenda.” He is personally excited about Indian Startups that are coming up with innovating ideas such as digital payment, retail, and educational software and expects more such startups will create global companies born out of India.

Ms. Debjani Ghosh, President of Nasscom, hopes that this decade would not just known as techade due to the increasing role of the technology, in fact it would known as India’s techade to showing the world how to unleash the real impact and use of technology to improve human life. In other words, she focuses on all forms of technology should be human life.

Shri Prashanth Prakash, Partner Accel, Chairman, Vision Group on Startups, Government of Karnataka, presented his insight on the driving themes of the future and he calls it as “fourth-wave of innovation, when it comes to deep-tech” and the more broader inclusive and growth that will also drive the state and city.

He states, “Karnataka is the space capital, we are seeing companies launch new nano-satellites, new types of rocket vehicles here from the city.”

DR.Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson of Vision and group on Biotechnology, focuses on the theme of the virtual summit that is “the next wave is Innovation”. It is about imagining about the post covid world which is thriving with new innovation in the digital world.

She addresses the event as an annual event that is growing and the covid has brought it as spotlight on the conversion of technologies like never before. The world has been transformed into a digital and biomedical ecosystem with irreversible disruption in the way we work, live, learn and regulate.