Karnataka to promote start-ups with French collaboration

Bengaluru, Nov 18 (IANS) Karnataka has signed an agreement with Business France India to collaborate on promoting start-ups in five areas.

"We have identified the five areas of collaboration for promoting start-up ecosystems in both countries," Karnataka IT Minister of State Priyank Kharge told reporters on Friday on the margins of the Bengaluru Tech Summit here.

The partners will focus on providing cross-learning opportunities to start-ups through participation in events, assisting select French start-ups to visit India for immersive experience and facilitating Indian firms in France to scale on their operations.

"The first French tech hub in India will be set up in Bengaluru with overseas collaborations on research and development (R&D), joint R&D projects and commercial expeditions," said Kharge on the occasion.

The French government has set up 22 French Tech Hubs the world over.

"Bengaluru has been the innovation and start-up hub of the country and has proven to be a preferred location for start-ups."

The Business France is a national agency supporting the international development of the French economy.

"We want to provide best in class exposure to our start-ups for cross learning, incubation and partnerships," added Kharge.