HDB region emerging as technology and advanced manufacturing hub, says KDEM CEO

Delegates at the sixth edition of the two-day HDB (Hubballi-Dharwad-Belagavi) Techceleration 2026, in Hubballi on Thursday. | Photo Credit: KIRAN BAKALE The sixth edition of the two-day Hubballi-Dharwad-Belagavi (HDB) Techceleration 2026, organised under the State government’s Beyond Bengaluru Mission which began in Hubballi on Thursday, brought together over than 700 delegates, 100 start-ups and 25 investors.Speaking at the inaugural session, KDEM Chief Executive Officer Sanjeev Kumar Gupta said the region had reached an “important inflection point” with a growing base of industries, start-ups, talent and institutional capabilities.Mr. Gupta said the region currently had 158 IT companies and over 800 Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)-recognised start-ups. According to him, 38 companies were looking to establish operations in the region, while ₹56 crore in government support had been provided for Centres of Excellence and a 24-acre IT park. He said the presence of Japanese investments and opportunities linked to aerospace companies such as Airbus and Boeing, along with the operations of technology company iMerit, indicated growing interest in the region.“The focus now is execution, getting new companies operational, strengthening the IT and start-up ecosystem, and converting our 25,000-strong annual talent pipeline into industry-ready jobs,” Mr. Gupta said. The two-day summit has its focus on advanced manufacturing, electronics, deep technology, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, start-ups, skilling and MSME innovation. The summit also discussed the potential for the region to develop capabilities in engineering, design, embedded systems, semiconductors and electric vehicle supply chains.Industry representatives called for greater participation from companies and closer collaboration between industry and educational institutions to sustain the region’s growth.Venkatesh Patil, lead industry anchor for Belagavi and managing director of Belgaum Oxygen, said the HDB region had evolved into a cluster bringing together industry, academia and government institutions in Hubballi, Dharwad and Belagavi.He said start-ups from Bengaluru, Gujarat and other parts of the country were increasingly participating in programmes such as HDB BLUE, while companies in technology, aerospace and advanced manufacturing were showing interest in the region.He said initiatives such as roadshows in India, Europe and the U.S. had helped draw attention to the HDB as a potential investment and innovation destination. However, sustained growth would require greater participation from industry, he said.Santosh Huralikoppi, Lead Industry Anchor for Hubballi and Managing Director and CEO of NS Infotech, also spoke.The summit featured fireside conversations, panel discussions and industry-led sessions on strengthening the region’s technology and advanced manufacturing ecosystem.The summit featured fireside conversations, panel discussions and industry-led sessions on strengthening the region’s technology and advanced manufacturing ecosystem. Published - September 03, 2026 10:48 pm IST