The Government of Karnataka has launched the ambitious KHIR City project to promote healthcare, innovation and job creation

The Forecast 2 years ago Karnataka

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar

The Karnataka government has started work on building a Knowledge, Health, Innovation, and Research (KHIR) city near Bangalore. They are looking to get an investment of Rs 40,000 crore and create 80,000 jobs in healthcare, innovation, and knowledge. The project covers 2,000 acres and is being developed in phases within a radius of 60 km from Bangalore.

During the ideation session, MB Patil, Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development, highlighted the transformational nature of KHIR city, emphasizing creating a center of excellence in collaboration with the government, medical institutions, private companies, and educational institutions. The initiative aims to create employment and attract investments while contributing significantly to the state's GDP - at least Rs 1 lakh crore. Dr.Chris Gopalakrishnan and industry leaders like Deviprasad Shetty gave insights in the session.

Karnataka's existing strengths, including a skilled talent pool and a robust innovation ecosystem, are conducive to the development of KHIR City. With more than 60% of India's biotech companies and 350 medical device manufacturers based in the state, Bangalore's strategic location is poised to boost its global position. IT/BT and S&T Minister Priyank Kharge highlighted KHIR Nagar as a unique knowledge hub, bringing together innovators from various fields. The government plans to formulate a dedicated policy to promote medical tourism.

Chris Gopalakrishnan emphasized the importance of quick implementation, suggesting the development of essential infrastructure such as a metro station before the KHIR city takes shape. The project was inspired by global models such as Singapore's Biopolis Cluster and Japan's Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster. The collaborative effort included flexible participation formats for private companies, ensuring a balanced and sustainable development model. Industry representatives stressed skill development in the state, with a special focus on life sciences.