Bengaluru, 4th November 2025 – The inaugural edition of the Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025 opened today at The Lalit Ashok, Bengaluru, marking the beginning of a two-day dialogue on workforce innovation and future readiness. Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister of Karnataka graced the inaugural event joined by D. K. Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, and Dr. Sharanaprakash R. Patil, Minister for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood, Government of Karnataka and Medical Education.
The inauguration ceremony commenced with a vibrant cultural performance under Karnataka Rajyotsava Sadagara. Smt. Shivakantamma (Kanta) Naik, Chairperson, Karnataka Skill Development Corporation and Karnataka Vocational Training & Skill Development Corporation, delivered the welcome address.
Siddaramaiah,Chief Minister of Karnataka during his remarkable speech highlighted, “Skill is not built in a day, it’s a product of patience , perseverance, and continuous learning. He urged students to stay consistent, noting that motivation gets you started, but consistency keeps you growing. Karnataka has always been at the forefront of skilling, being among the first states in India to set up a dedicated Department of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in 2016/17.”
“The Kaushalya Karnataka Yojana took skill development to every corner of the state, surpassing the initial target of training 5 lakh youth. Under the Yuga program, over 1 lakh youth were trained in IT, electronics, and animation, ensuring Karnataka’s lead in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Karnataka government empowers, enables, and uplifts the youth of the future nation.
“Karnataka aims to become the Skill Capital of India and a 1 trillion economy by 2032, powered by talent, technology, and tenacity. The world looks out to Karnataka not only for innovation but for inspiration. Every thought, every heart, and every hand will build the Karnataka of our dreams.” he added.
Highlighting the noble initiative undertaken by Dr. Sharanaprakash R. Patil, D. K. Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka stated, “Wherever innovation happens, Karnataka has always led first. The state has consistently set benchmarks in various sectors. The State of Karnataka is open for discussions, collaborations, and knowledge sharing to strengthen the ecosystem of skill and innovation. The long-term global partnerships, especially with German institutions, have been key to Karnataka’s ongoing success story in innovation and skill development and it will keep growing under the current government’s initiative to skill & upskill the youth workforce.”
Sanjeev Gupta, CEO of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) said, “Karnataka has always been at the forefront of connecting talent with opportunity – from nurturing India’s IT capital to now shaping the AI Workforce of 2030. The Government of Karnataka’s forward-looking skilling initiatives are bridging the crucial gap between education and employability by integrating industry, academia, and technology. At Karnataka Digital Economy Mission, our focus is on building a future-ready talent ecosystem, one that equips every youth, from Bengaluru to the Beyond Bengaluru clusters, to thrive in an AI-augmented economy. The Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025 exemplifies our vision of a scalable and synergistic talent ecosystem that empowers every youth, not just in Bengaluru, but across all clusters, to thrive in an AI-driven economy. This Summit transcends showcasing progress – it charts an inclusive and innovative pathway for India to lead the world in workforce development and global employability. It also aims to encourage employers to get closely connected with academia and the participation of Industry on Campus going high up is the aspiration here”