Hitachi Vantara Launches Virtual Storage Platform One Block High End Storage To Power The Next Era Of AI And Workloads

VSP One Block High End delivers advanced data protection and cyber resilience, providing continuous availability and meeting the latest NIST-certified standards for security and authentication

Hitachi Vantara, the data storage, infrastructure, and hybrid cloud management subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), today announced the launch of Virtual Storage Platform One (VSP One) Block High End, a next-generation, all-flash NVMe block storage solution designed to address the demands of most mission-critical business and growing AI workloads. Completing its VSP One data platform strategy, VSP One Block High End delivers performance, scalability, cybersecurity and data resilience, empowering organizations to confidently drive data from insight to impact. With seamless workload consolidation across open systems and mainframe, VSP One simplifies data management operations while delivering enterprise-grade security and sustainability.

For more information about the VSP One Block High End, please visit: https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/products/storage-platforms/vsp-one-block/high-end

Enterprises today face mounting pressure to modernize their digital core as they navigate the complexities of AI-driven transformation, massive data growth, and real-time analytics. Legacy infrastructure is increasingly unable to keep pace with the performance, resilience, and efficiency required to support business-critical and AI workloads. According to a recent report, over 70% of respondents reported that their current IT infrastructure was inadequately prepared to handle future ML and AI workload demands. As the challenge of managing data has been exacerbated by AI growth, a separate report found more than half (57%) of IT leaders surveyed storing data across on-premises, and private, hybrid, sovereign and public clouds.

From reducing latency in high-performance databases to ensuring uninterrupted access to patient records in healthcare, organizations need data infrastructure that they can trust to run their business. With the ability to scale intelligently, recover rapidly, and deliver insights instantly, VSP One Block High End is built to address these challenges by enabling faster transaction processing, enhanced user experiences, and accelerated data science outcomes, while maintaining security, compliance and operational continuity. As industries enter the era of powering the AI factory, it provides the unified data foundation to help organizations drive enhanced productivity and innovation.

“What we’re seeing across industries is a tipping point where data infrastructure must evolve or risk holding back innovation,” said Octavian Tanase, chief product officer, Hitachi Vantara. “VSP One Block High End goes beyond performance upgrade; it’s a strategic enabler for enterprises to rethink how they capture, manage, protect, and scale data in the AI era.”

VSP One is designed to address the growing complexity of data-driven operations. Built on three foundational pillars, VSP One enables:

Secure Resilience: Built-in FIPS 140-3 Level 2 certified protection, with eight nines of availability, while Hitachi’s Cyber Resilience Guarantee helps achieve near-zero data loss and rapid recovery.

Simple Performance and Management: All-flash NVMe architecture, supporting 50 million IOPS with hardware compression acceleration and support for up to 346TB per RU. VSP 360 provides unified data management operations with centralized fleet management, guided automation workflows, and mobile-enabled observability.

Sustainable Scalability: Future-proof data infrastructure that features a 4:1 Data Reduction Guarantee and automatically switches CPUs into eco mode during low activity periods, significantly reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint.

“As our organization accelerates its AI initiatives, the pressure on our existing infrastructure has never been greater,” said Mauro Guzelotto, vice president of cloud services, North America, T-Systems. “The launch of VSP One High End is timely. It’s clear Hitachi Vantara understands that enterprises need more than incremental improvements. We need platforms that can handle exponential data growth, deliver real-time insights, and ensure resilience at scale. This is the kind of innovation that helps us stay competitive and future ready.”

Enterprise-Grade Cybersecurity and Data Resiliency

VSP One Block High End is purpose-built to help enterprises modernize their digital core with a high-performance data platform that simplifies operations and strengthens resilience. VSP One delivers immutable snapshots, automated recovery and anomaly detection powered by CyberSense. With a 100% data availability guarantee and a cyber resilience guarantee that enables clean data recovery in seconds for companies victimized by a ransomware attack, this solution supports continuous operations for mission-critical workloads. VSP One has previously achieved alignment with the U.S. government’s Secure Software Development Framework, which was validated by a third-party and confirmed by CISA, meeting stringent requirements to help protect critical data from security threats.

The solution also delivers enhanced speed and adaptive data reduction that maintains performance even with uncompressible data. The platform supports consolidation of Open Systems (Block, File, Object) and mainframe workloads, scaling up to 12 controllers and 288 x 60TB SSDs, with advanced connectivity including 100G NVMe over transmission control protocol (TCP) and 64G FC.

“As partners, we’re excited about the potential this platform brings to our customers who are preparing for the next wave of AI-driven transformation,” said Bo Reggelsen, director, Enterprise and Datacenter, Codeex A/S. “The architecture, resilience, and scalability of VSP One Block High End position us to deliver future-ready solutions that meet the evolving demands of AI data-intensive workloads.”

Enhanced Data Governance and Compliance with VSP 360

Unified data management is streamlined through VSP 360, offering integrated fleet-wide management, simple installation, guided workflows, and mobile access. AIOps-powered analytics and observability enable faster decision-making and simplified administrative operations. VSP One is also a cloud-enabled storage platform, supported by leading public clouds including Microsoft Azure, AWS and Google Cloud.

“As enterprises accelerate their adoption of AI and real-time analytics, infrastructure must evolve to support these high-performance, data-intensive environments,” said Ashish Nadkarni, group vice president and general manager, Worldwide Infrastructure Research, IDC. “Hitachi Vantara’s VSP One High End is a strategic response to this shift. Its unified architecture and guaranteed performance are designed to help organizations modernize their digital core while maintaining operational continuity, a critical capability in today’s fast-moving landscape.”

VSP One Block High End will be available globally in early 2026 through Hitachi Vantara and its network of partners. For more information, visit www.hitachivantara.com.

Zydus And Pinkathon Unite To Champion Breast Cancer Awareness In Bengaluru

· Zydus Pinkathon to engage women across India in a movement for early detection and women’s health

· Aim to engage more than 7000 women in Bengaluru alone

· From 3 km community runs to 100 km ultras, Pinkathon 2025–26 will begin its Bengaluru chapter on January 25 at Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru

Zydus Lifesciences Ltd., a global innovation-led healthcare company, and Pinkathon, India’s biggest women’s run, today announced the 7th edition of the Bengaluru Pinkathon scheduled for January 25th, 2026, at the iconic Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru as a part of their ongoing nationwide campaign to raise awareness on breast cancer and women’s health. The Bengaluru run aims to bring together 7000 women from all walks of life to spread the message of early detection and regular self-breast exams.

As part of its collaboration with Pinkathon, Zydus aims to reach women across six major cities in India, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai, through the 2025–26 Pinkathon season. The Bengaluru event reinforces Zydus’ continued commitment to empowering women to take charge of their health and well-being.

The official announcement was made by Dr. C. N. Patil, HOD and Lead Consultant – Medical Oncology & Haemato Oncology, Aster CMI, Bengaluru and Milind Soman, Founder of Pinkathon, along with Ankita Konwar, Founder of Invincible Women. The leaders reiterated their shared mission to drive awareness around the importance of preventive healthcare, especially in the fight against breast cancer.

Speaking on the campaign, Dr. Sharvil Patel, Managing Director, Zydus Lifesciences Ltd., said, “With the Easiest Exam campaign, we seek to empower women with the knowledge that a simple 3-minute self-examination each month can make a life-saving difference. Joining hands with Pinkathon, we aim to reach many more women, raise awareness, and inspire collective action in the fight against breast cancer. We believe that raising awareness on women’s health and Breast cancer remains equally vital, as early detection has the power to save countless lives.”

Unveiling the 7th Bengaluru Pinkathon at the city press conference, Milind Soman, Founder of Pinkathon, said, “Pinkathon has always been more than a run - it’s a movement that inspires women to prioritise their physical and emotional well-being. Every edition reminds us of the power of community when women come together for their health. With the support of Zydus this year, we are strengthening our mission of spreading awareness about breast cancer and ensuring that every woman understands the importance of early detection.” Over the next six months, Zydus Pinkathon will travel to Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai, engaging more than 30,000 women nationwide.

Ankita Konwar, Founder, Invincible Women, said, “For me, Pinkathon is a safe, joyful space where women of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities show up for themselves. Every woman who steps out to participate makes a statement — that her health matters. This collaboration with Zydus enables us to amplify conversations around self-examination and proactive health choices, and I’m excited to see Bengaluru turn up in full strength.”

Breast cancer continues to be one of the most prevalent forms of cancer affecting women worldwide, with rising cases in India. Over 2 lakh women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and tragically, every 8 minutes a woman loses her life due to late diagnosis. The Easiest Exam campaign by Zydus encourages women to take charge of their health through a simple 3-minute monthly self-breast examination.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. C. N. Patil, HOD and Lead Consultant – Medical Oncology & Haemato-Oncology at Aster CMI Hospital, said: “Breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers among women, but early detection can significantly improve outcomes. Initiatives like Pinkathon are essential in encouraging women to take proactive steps such as a simple monthly 3-minute self-check that can prove life-saving.”

The second edition of the Easiest Exam campaign has been launched this October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, focusing on the message, “Do haath, teen minute aur ek easy exam” a simple yet powerful habit that can help save lives. The initiative includes awareness drives, podcasts, stories of breast cancer warriors, and expert conversations with oncologists to break myths and stigma surrounding breast cancer.

Axis Bank Strengthens Support For India’s Start-Up Ecosystem With The Launch Of Its Curated Corporate Salary Program

Reinforces Commitment through Flagship ‘Start-Up Social’ Event in Bengaluru

Axis Bank, one of India’s leading private sector banks, today announced the launch of its Curated Corporate Salary Program for Employees of Start-ups under its New Economy Group (NEG). The launch reinforces the Bank’s commitment to supporting new-age enterprises and their workforce with tailored financial, lifestyle, and wellness offerings, further cementing its position as the preferred banking partner for start-ups across their life cycle – from the growth stage to IPO.

The announcement was made at Axis Bank’s flagship Start-Up Social event in Bengaluru, a unique platform that brings together India’s leading founders, investors, and industry enablers to celebrate innovation and collaboration.

The Curated Corporate Salary Program, designed exclusively for employees of funded start-ups and digital businesses, offers a blend of convenience, lifestyle, and financial wellness benefits, including zero-balance Savings Account, comprehensive insurance cover, exclusive credit card privileges, and personalized loan options – mirroring the aspirations of the digital workforce. Targeted towards the Gen Z and Gen Alpha workforce, the program delivers a strong value proposition across lifestyle needs, including health check-ups, fitness, travel, education and entertainment.

Through its ‘Switch to Save’ feature, this program also provides unmatched value to employees, enabling annual savings* ranging from Rs. 46,000 to Rs. 2.4 lakh, depending on the account variant. These exclusive benefits are designed to significantly enhance the financial well-being of every salary account holder under this program.

Commenting on the launch, Vijay Mulbagal, Group Executive – Wholesale Banking Coverage, Corporate Salary, Sustainability & CSR, Axis Bank, said, “India’s start-up story is one of ambition, resilience, and global scale. At Axis Bank, we have had the privilege of being a part of this journey – banking over 65% of India’s unicorns and supporting the next generation of growth-stage companies as they scale and list. Through our New Economy Group, we are deepening this engagement – not just as a banker, but as a growth partner. The Curated Corporate Salary Program is another step in that direction, designed to empower the people who power India’s digital economy. It offers a comprehensive range of benefits across insurance, home loans, credit card, and lifestyle privileges, including exclusive discounts for the next-generation workforce.”

Sanjiv Bhatia, President & Head – New Economy and Multinationals Coverage, Axis Bank, added, “Start-ups are redefining employment in India with highly skilled tech professionals. Our Curated Corporate Salary Program is built around their unique needs, combining everyday banking with differentiated lifestyle benefits. This initiative complements our other offerings such as the Start-Up Card, Working Capital Solutions, Capital Markets, Connected Banking APIs, and Burgundy Private solutions for Founders – ensuring Axis is present across every milestone of a company’s journey.”

Empowering India’s Innovation Economy

Axis Bank’s New Economy & Financial Sponsors Group (NEGFS) is a specialized vertical dedicated to the banking needs of start-ups, venture-backed enterprises, and investors. With a presence across all key innovation hubs, the New Economy Group currently banks more than 45% of funded start-ups (Series A and above), offering them a full suite of products from digital transaction banking and treasury services to corporate credit cards and wealth solutions for founders. The New Economy Group goes beyond traditional banking by providing deep solutions through API integrations with many start-ups, and by forging strategic partnerships that combine the agility of start-ups with the strength and trust of Axis brand

The Axis Bank Start-Up Social platform, anchored by the New Economy & Financial Sponsors Group, has become a signature networking forum for the start-up ecosystem, enabling founders, VCs and ecosystem players to connect with each other and directly with the Bank’s leadership team.

About Axis Bank:

Axis Bank is one of the largest private sector banks in India. Axis Bank offers the entire spectrum of services to customer segments covering Large and Mid-Corporates, SME, Agriculture, and Retail Businesses. It has 5,976 domestic branches (including extension counters) and 13,177 ATMs and cash recyclers spread across the country as on 30th September 2025. The Bank’s Axis Virtual Centre is present across eight centres with over ~1,786 Virtual Relationship Managers as on 30th September 2025. The Axis Group includes Axis Mutual Fund, Axis Securities Ltd., Axis Finance, Axis Trustee, Axis Capital, A.TReDS Ltd., Freecharge, Axis Pension Fund and Axis Bank Foundation.

For further information on Axis Bank, please refer to the website: https://www.axisbank.com

Karnataka To Generate 90 Lakh Jobs, $3 Billion In Space Investments Under New IT, Space Policies

Karnataka government on the occasion of the ongoing Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025, has announced two ambitious technology policies targeting the IT and space sectors, to further propel the state toward its earlier announced USD 1 trillion local economy goal.

At the annual Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025, the Information Technology (IT) Policy 2025-2030 and the Space Technology Policy 2025-2030 outline comprehensive incentives and infrastructure plans aimed at cementing the state’s global leadership in the digital economy and the emerging ‘NewSpace’ domain.

IT Policy Targets Software Exports

The new IT Policy, framed under the strategic pillars of F.R.A.M.E. (Frontier, Regional, Alignment, Market, Enterprise), focuses heavily on technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Computing, Web3 and Blockchain.

The policy sets aggressive targets:

Software Exports: Increase from the current Rs 4.09 lakh crore to Rs 11.5 lakh crore (USD 138 billion) by 2030.

Employment: Generate over 90 lakh direct and indirect jobs during the policy period.

Deep Tech Focus: Establish Karnataka as the ‘deep tech innovation destination’ by implementing the Karnataka Quantum Roadmap and establishing dedicated research ecosystems.

Increase IT’s contribution to the state’s economy (GSVA) from 26 per cent to 36 per cent.

To prevent excessive concentration in Bengaluru, the government plans to establish Technoverse – Integrated Technology Campuses in emerging tech clusters like Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi and Shivamogga, utilising a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

The state has also introduced the Women in Global Tech Missions Fellowship and the IT Talent Return Program to address the demand for a highly specialised workforce in these frontier areas.

Space Policy Seeks 50% Share Of Indian Market

The Space Technology Policy 2025-2030 builds on Karnataka’s historic role as India’s space capital, setting a vision to become the global hub for space innovation and manufacturing. The policy targets a USD 3 billion cumulative investment into the space ecosystem.

Key objectives:

National Market Share: Capture 50 per cent of India's space market (projected at USD 22 billion) by 2033.

Global Share: Target a five per cent share of the global space market.

The policy provides robust support across the space value chain, from the Upstream Segment (manufacturing of satellites, launch vehicles and propulsion systems) to the Downstream Segment (Earth Observation and Satellite Communications applications).

To facilitate this growth, the state plans to establish Space Manufacturing Parks across the state and has put in place financial incentives. These include subsidies up to Rs 1 crore (USD 1,20,000) for testing and quality certification for startups and MSMEs, and capital investment subsidies. Governance will be streamlined through a new Space Technology Cell under KITS, acting as a single-window clearance mechanism.

“Karnataka is powered by one of the world’s strongest knowledge ecosystems, supported by top universities, engineering colleges, ITIs and a highly productive workforce. With over 16,000 startups, 550 GCCs and 400 Fortune 500 companies, the state contributes 42 per cent of India’s IT exports worth Rs 3.2 lakh crore. This year marks a major milestone with the launch of three transformative policies — the IT Policy, Space Tech Policy and Startup Policy 2025-2030,” said Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister of Karnataka.

In September, the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government approved the State Skill Development Policy-2025-32, which is expected to cost Rs 4,432 crore. The state government is slated to release its next policy that will be targeted towards startups.

“We are building a future-ready state through centres of excellence in AI, cybersecurity, robotics, quantum and the Beyond Bengaluru initiative to expand opportunities across districts. Karnataka continues to be India’s most trusted investment destination with clear policies and a culture that champions talent, innovation and global ambition,” CM Siddaramaiah added, speaking at Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025.

Infosys Co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan said the policies signal a shift in how Karnataka’s large technology workforce must think about the future. “Karnataka has the largest tech talent base in the country. Such a talent base will now have to reimagine the role they are going to play — from a services-led growth to product-led growth,” he said, adding that professionals should explore whitespaces emerging from the new policy environment and collaborate across research institutions, startups and industry.

“Nobody is yet a leader in this product-led growth. But Karnataka can be a leader… jobs are changing and jobs will continue to evolve. We have to make sure that we stay relevant, be retrained and play an active role in making this happen,” he added.

Meanwhile, Prashanth Prakash, Partner at Accel and Chairperson of the Karnataka Vision Group on Startups, said the policy stack arrives at a crucial time as startups seek faster pathways to build globally competitive IP. “The new RDI scheme by the central government and many initiatives from Karnataka give startups the capabilities to land global IP from anywhere in the world into India and replicate it here,” he said.

“We don’t have another 10 years to build all the IP and academic capabilities for this. What we have are engineers and very capable startup entrepreneurs who can accelerate and build this as a lab for innovation by leveraging global IP,” Prakash added.

Kerala Literature Festival 2026 To Unite 400 Global Voices At Kozhikode Beach*

The Ninth Edition of Asia’s Largest and world’s most attended Literary Festival Was Announced at a Successful Pre-Event Showcase in Bengaluru

The ninth edition of the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) will be held from January 22 to 25, 2026 at the Kozhikode beachfront, the city recognised as India’s first UNESCO City of Literature. Since its inception in 2016, KLF has grown into Asia’s largest and world’s most attended literary conclave, attracting more than 650,000 visitors and over 600 speakers in its previous edition and becoming one of India’s most anticipated cultural gathering where literature, ideas, art, music, cinema, and performance come together in an open and inclusive space.

Ahead of the upcoming festival, a dedicated campaign titled ‘An Event Beyond Words’ was introduced as part of efforts toward promoting the next edition among marketing professionals, advertising professionals, business influencers, and brand owners. As part of this campaign, a pre-event showcase was held in Bengaluru where details related to KLF 2026 were outlined for attendees.

The 2026 edition is set to be even more dynamic, presenting a wider range of voices and experiences that reflect the evolving landscape of global thought and creativity. Over four days, the festival will feature over 400 speakers and 250 sessions spread across seven parallel tracks, with ten sessions per track each day, 15 participating countries, followed by evening performances and musical events on Kozhikode beach. Each day will bring together readers, writers, and artists for discussions that move fluidly between genres and disciplines, turning Kozhikode into a city of ideas.

Building on this expansive format, KLF 2026 will host a remarkable gathering of Nobel Laureates, Booker Prize winners, historians, scientists, philosophers, activists, filmmakers, and artists, creating hundreds of sessions that explore both the familiar and the new. The conversations will span fiction and non-fiction, politics and history, folklore and contemporary culture, science and philosophy, reflecting the festival’s core belief that the exchange of ideas is the most powerful form of creativity. Among the confirmed speakers are Nobel Laureates Abdulrazak Gurnah, Olga Tokarczuk, and Abhijit Banerjee, Olympian Ben Johnson, business leader Indra Nooyi, artist and illustrator Cheyenne Olivier, writer Gabriela Ybarra, economist Arvind Subramanian, linguist and author Peggy Mohan, author and columnist Shobhaa De, writer and former diplomat Amish Tripathi, actor and singer Piyush Mishra, curator Helen Molesworth, writer and activist Banu Mushtaq, along with writer and journalist Deepa Bhasthi.

“KLF has evolved into a platform where literature and art coexist with science, cinema, and social thought. Every year, it becomes a meeting point for some of the most creative and courageous minds from around the world. The 2026 edition will continue this journey by deepening the exchange of ideas and celebrating cultural diversity,” said Ravi Deecee, Chief Facilitator, Kerala Literature Festival.

Germany has been announced as the Guest Nation for KLF 2026, bringing with it a programme of rich literary, artistic, and cultural expressions.

"Germany shares a close historical relationship with Kerala and we are excited to reaffirm this relationship through our programming for Kerala Literature Festival," said Michael Heinst, Director of Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Bangalore. "As the Guest Nation of KLF 2026, the German participation will feature a dedicated pavilion, a writing residency in Vagamon for German writers as well as a Creative Writing Workshop for young creatives writing in Malayalam. Together with our partners, the German Consulate and the Goethe-Zentrum in Trivandrum, we will bring German authors and writers to the warm sands of Kozhikode beach."

The pavilion will highlight Germany’s literature, art, and creative industries, offering audiences a closer look at the country’s contemporary cultural identity. A spectacular light installation on Kozhikode Beach will serve as a visual centrepiece, symbolising the spirit of collaboration and cross-cultural exchange that KLF represents. Through curated sessions, exhibitions, and performances, the German presence will engage with Indian writers, artists, and audiences, fostering meaningful dialogues on literature, translation, art, and shared creative values.

The collaboration reflects KLF’s continued evolution as a global cultural platform that welcomes diversity, builds connections, and celebrates the many ways in which ideas travel across borders.

The country’s participation follows the success of France’s presence last year and adds another dimension to the festival’s growing international stature.

Reflecting the festival’s commitment to immersive cultural experiences, KLF 2026 will feature an extensive line-up of events that blend literature with live performance. Over four days, the Kozhikode beachfront will transform into a vibrant space for ideas, art, and community interaction. Alongside the day’s sessions, the evenings will offer an equally engaging cultural experience, with fusion nights, concerts, traditional and contemporary art showcases, and theatre performances that highlight Kerala’s artistic diversity. The beachfront setting adds to the festival’s charm, creating a welcoming atmosphere where people can read, listen, and celebrate creativity in every form.

“KLF has always stood for accessibility and openness. It allows conversations that connect people across languages, disciplines, and borders, reinforcing Kerala’s place on the global cultural map,” Ravi Deecee added.

As anticipation builds for Kerala Literature Festival 2026, Kozhikode once again prepares to welcome voices, stories, and audiences from around the world. Over four days, the festival will transform the city into a living celebration of creativity and human connection.

*About Kerala Literature Festival (KLF):*

Founded in 2016, the Kerala Literature Festival has become a landmark event where literature intersects with art, music, cinema, and philosophy. The festival is promoted by DC Kizhakemuri Foundation and supported by the Government of Kerala. The 8 th edition in 2025 will hosted over 600 speakers, 15 countries and 650,000 visitors at Kozhikode Beach —reaffirming Kerala’s place on the global cultural map. KLF is part of the tourist calendar of the region with participation from across India and from other parts of the world.

Website: https://keralaliteraturefestival.com/ 

Photo Caption: Ravi Deecee, Chief Facilitator, Kerala Literature Festival. & Michael Heinst, Director of Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Bangalore.

CM Siddaramaiah Inaugurates Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025: “Futurise” - A Call To Imagine, Innovate, And Build What Comes Next

Highlights:

The 28th edition of Asia’s largest technology event opened at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC)

Ten conference tracks aligned with the “Futurise” theme, featuring 100+ sessions, 500+ global speakers, 1000+ exhibitors, 15,000+ attendees, and 50,000+ business visitors from 60+ countries

BTS is making a shift from iconic Bangalore Palace to BIEC, marking a significant scale-up for the summit and aligning with Karnataka’s Deep Tech Decade ambition

Dedicated zones for Corporates, Start-ups, R&D (Lab-to-Market), Country Pavilions, and sectoral showcases across AI & Deeptech, Electro-Semicon, Biotech & HealthTech, Greentech, SpaceTech, and more

During the inauguration, two important policies Karnataka Space Technology Policy 2025-2030 and the Karnataka IT Policy 2025 –2030, were launched

Star attraction of the event includes the Future Makers Conclave, star speakers including Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, Sania Mirza, Ankur Warikoo, Richa Ghosh, and Kaivalya Vohra

The 28th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 (BTS 2025), organized by the Department of Electronics, IT & Bt, Government of Karnataka, and Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), was inaugurated by Shri Siddaramaiah, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Government of Karnataka, in the august presence of Shri D. K. Shivakumar, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka. The august gathering was also be attended by dignitaries including Shri M.B. Patil, Minister for Large & Medium Industries, Govt. of Karnataka; H.E. Ms. Ilse Aigner, President of the Bavarian State Parliament, Germany; H.E. Mr. Jan Christian Vestre, Minister of Health and Care Services, Norway; Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece, Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Australia; H.E. Mr. Rafal Rosinski, Deputy Minister of Digitization, Poland and Shri Arvind Kumar, Director General, STPI.

A highlight of the Inaugural Ceremony is the opening plenary session, titled, ‘India Futurises: From Leap-frogging to Pole-vaulting’ featuring Shri Priyank Kharge, Hon'ble Minister for Information Technology & Biotechnology and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Govt. of Karnataka, Shri Kris Gopalakrishnan, Co-Founder, Infosys; Chairman, Axilor Ventures; Chairperson - Vision Group on IT & Electronics, Government of Karnataka; Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson and Founder, Biocon Limited; Chairperson - Vision Group on Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka and Shri Prashanth Prakash, Founding Partner, Accel India; Chairman, Vision group on Startups- Government of Karnataka

During the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 inauguration, Shri Siddaramaiah, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, said, “Bengaluru Tech Summit has evolved into a global platform where ideas, research and industry converge to shape the future. Karnataka is powered by one of the world’s strongest knowledge ecosystems, supported by top universities, engineering colleges, ITIs and a highly productive workforce. With over 16,000 startups, 550 GCCs and 400 Fortune 500 companies, the state contributes 42 percent of India’s IT exports worth ₹3.2 lakh crore. This year marks a major milestone with the launch of three transformative policies — the IT Policy, Space Tech Policy and Startup Policy 2025–2030. The Space Tech Policy aims to position Karnataka as India’s leading space hub, capturing 50 percent of the national and 5 percent of the global market by 2034. We are building a future-ready state through centres of excellence in AI, cybersecurity, robotics, quantum and the Beyond Bengaluru initiative to expand opportunities across districts. Karnataka continues to be India’s most trusted investment destination with clear policies and a culture that champions talent, innovation and global ambition”.

Shri D.K. Shivakumar, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, said, “Bengaluru’s strength comes from the two pillars — technology and talent. This city now hosts over 400 R&D centres, 500 Fortune companies, 12,000 active start-ups and contributes more than 40 percent of India’s software exports. We’re investing more than 1.5 lakh crore rupees to push infrastructure at high speed, including a 41-kilometre twin-tunnel elevated corridor and the Bengaluru Business Corridor stretching over 130 kilometres. We’re also working on a second international airport for the city and creating a dedicated platform for global NRI investments. Our goal is simple: build a future where innovation, education and opportunity reach every part of Karnataka”.

Shri M.B. Patil, Minister for Large & Medium Industries, Govt. of Karnataka, said “Karnataka has become the talent engine of the country’s tech economy, home to over 800 R&D centres, more than 100 chip design houses, and a thriving startup ecosystem of over 18,300 innovators working across AI, deep tech, quantum computing, biotech, space tech, and advanced manufacturing. We are backing this momentum with a dedicated allocation of 600 crores to support entrepreneurs building in frontier technologies and sustainability, while developing future-ready ecosystems like the upcoming Queen City and our 200-acre semiconductor park. Our goal is clear: to position Karnataka not just as India’s innovation capital, but as a trusted global partner shaping the next wave of technological progress”.

Two major policy announcements were made during the Inaugural Ceremony:

Karnataka Space Technology Policy 2025-2030 was announced during the inauguration. The policy aims to position Karnataka as a global hub for space innovation, manufacturing, and research by 2030. It focuses on developing a highly skilled workforce, fostering deep-tech startups, and attracting international investments across the space value chain. The policy strengthens both upstream and downstream space capabilities through dedicated manufacturing parks, advanced testing infrastructure, and a new Centre of Excellence for Space Technology. It also promotes technology transfer, R&D, quality certification, and IP creation to accelerate product development. A major thrust is on integrating space applications into governance, agriculture, disaster management, and rural development to drive real-world impact. Overall, the policy sets a strong foundation to capture 50% of India’s space market and significantly expand Karnataka’s footprint in the global space economy.

The Karnataka IT Policy 2025 –2030 was introduced to reinforce the state’s leadership as India’s premier technology hub and to accelerate its global competitiveness. The policy focuses on driving innovation, strengthening digital infrastructure, and fostering emerging technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, semiconductor design, and cloud computing. It aims to enhance ease of doing business through simplified regulations, incentive frameworks, and a future-ready policy environment. A major emphasis is placed on expanding the talent pipeline by upgrading skilling programmes, promoting industry–academia collaboration, and encouraging R&D-led growth. The policy seeks to boost IT penetration across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, enabling balanced regional development and job creation. It also promotes sustainable and inclusive digital development through startups, women-led enterprises, and socially impactful tech solutions. Overall, the policy sets a comprehensive roadmap to propel Karnataka’s IT sector into its next phase of high-value, innovation-driven growth.

The Future Makers Conclave at the BTS will be a high-energy gathering of founders, investors, and innovators, almost 10,000 of them, who will shape the next wave of entrepreneurship. The Conclave is a flagship meet that aims at delivering highly tangible and definite value for all participants from the start-up ecosystem -- budding entrepreneurs, early-stage founders, seasoned entrepreneurs -- who are looking to scale up. IT will ensure that every attendee leaves with concrete key takeaways, whether in capital access, pilots, business tools, mentoring, visibility, or networks.

Themed “Futurise”, this year’s summit will bring together global leaders, policymakers, investors, startups, and innovators to explore emerging frontiers across DeepTech, Biotech & HealthTech, Semiconductors, and Startup Innovation. This year, BTS features 10 focused conference tracks, including IT & DeepTech, Electro–Semicon, Digi Health & Biotech, India–USA Tech Conclave, and Global Collaboration and Startup Ecosystem, which includes the sub-tracks AI Universe- a run up to the India AI Impact Summit, Defence & SpaceTech, and Finverse. Other tracks include the Academia-Industry Collab, Assistech and Women in Leadership. The summit will bring together over 50,000 visitors, including 1,000+ investors, 15,000+ attendees, 500+ speakers, and 1000+ exhibitors. The event will host over 80 knowledge sessions, 5,000+ curated meetings, and welcome participation from 60+ countries and all 30 States and Union Territories of India.

The notable speakers at the summit include Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO; Sindhu Gangadharan, MD, SAP Labs India; Lingraju Sawkar, CEO, Kyndryl India; Ajay Vij, Senior Country MD, Accenture India; Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director – Asia South, NVIDIA; Andrew Chin, Chief AI Officer, AllianceBernstein; Meerah Rajavel, CIO, Palo Alto Networks; Amardeep Singh Bhatia, IAS, Secretary, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India and Abhishek Singh, IAS, Additional Secretary, MeitY, Govt. of India. Few known leaders in the technology and innovation industry like Manu Saale, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz R&D India; Viren Prasad Shetty, Vice Chairman, Narayana Health; Dror Bin, CEO, Israel Innovation Authority; Maheshwar Rao, IAS, Chief Commissioner, BBMP; international filmmaker Shekhar Kapur; Kirthiga Reddy, CEO, Verix & OptimizeGEO; and Ruchir Dixit, VP & Country Manager, Siemens EDA will be part of the sessions at the summit.

The lineup further features industry pioneers such as Subash Chandar Govindarajan, Senior Director – Silicon, Google; S. Somanath, Former Chairman, ISRO, Manoj Meena, CEO & Founder, ATOMBERG Technologies; Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow, NITI Aayog; Dr. Jitendra Kumar, MD, BIRAC; Shri Goverdhan Singh Rawat, Deputy MD, NABARD; Vivek Raghavan, Co-Founder, Sarvam AI; Kalika Bali, Senior Principal Researcher, Microsoft Research; Dr. Nagendra Nagaraja, Founder & CEO, QpiAI; Ankush Sabharwal, Founder & CEO, CoRover.ai & BharatGPT; Anoop Srikantaswamy, Founder & CEO, Moonrider; Dr. Vidyashankar S, Vice Chancellor, VTU and many more.

BTS 2025 will witness participation from over 60 countries, making it one of the largest global technology gatherings hosted by any state in India. This year, Australia joins us as the Country Partner, while NRW Global Business (Germany) and Norway are featured as Country Focus Partners, Poland is the Bronze Partner, and Italy is the Country Presence Partner. Further strengthening the global footprint of the summit are delegations from leading tech nations that are participating in the Conference and Exhibition, viz., USA, Cuba, Uruguay, Russia, UK, Israel, Belgium, Finland, France, EU, Dubai, Sharjah, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand.

On the domestic front, Madhya Pradesh is the State Partner, with Odisha as the Co-State Partner. The event also welcomes DPIIT – Startup India as its Startup Partner.

The Department of Electronics, IT & BT, Government of Karnataka, in collaboration with KEONICS, launched KEO (Knowledge Driven, Economical Open Source), a compact, affordable, AI-ready personal computer that was designed and developed entirely in Karnataka to bridge the state’s digital access gap. The device is priced at Rs 18999 and will make intelligent computing accessible empowering citizens across Karnataka.

The summit will culminate in the Future Makers Conclave (FMC) on 20 November 2025 — a flagship highlight of this year’s edition. The Future Makers Conclave unites remarkable stories, bold ideas, and inspiring journeys — a stage built to Dream big, Dare boldly, and Disrupt the future. The FMC will feature a Symphony of Sound & Mind performance by Voctronica and Suhani Shah, a celebrated mind reader, and keynote addresses by Group Capt. Shubhanshu Shukla (Test Pilot & Astronaut) and Ankur Warikoo (Influencer & Author); fireside conversations with Kaivalya Vohra (Co-founder, Zepto) and Sania Mirza (Six Time Grand-Slam Champion) and Richa Ghosh, Wicketkeeper- batter, Indian women's cricketer The programme will also include investment announcements by leading VC in emerging AI/ DeepTech startups, the Karnataka Unicorn Founders Felicitation, and top Elevate Awards 2025 presentation — affirming Karnataka’s long-term commitment to accelerating innovation through its DeepTech investment roadmap.

In addition to conference sessions and exhibitions, BTS 2025 will also host specialised platforms like Investor Connect — enabling startups to engage directly with leading investors and industry leaders — and Mentor Connect, which offers valuable one-on-one mentorship sessions with seasoned domain experts. These platforms aim to catalyze meaningful connections, capital access, and strategic guidance for the next generation of innovators.

This year’s edition of BTS is supported by an extensive and diverse roster of global and domestic partners whose collaboration reflects the summit’s scale, credibility, and industry-wide relevance. The event brings together leading corporations, technology pioneers, academic institutions, R&D organisations, and government bodies across multiple categories, including Platinum, AI, Biotech, Diamond, Country, State, Connectivity, Startup, Innovation, and Infrastructure Partners. Key partners include Kyndryl, Infosys, Biocon Group, Bosch Global Software Technologies, Availity, TrustGrid, and several international country partners such as Australia, NRW Global Business (Germany), Norway, and Italy. The summit is also strengthened by the participation of major corporates such as Goldman Sachs, SAP, SynGene, Intel, Applied Materials, CRED, SBI, NABARD, Cognizant, GlobalFoundries, Analog Devices, among others. With over 100 partners spanning industry, academia, finance, policy, and innovation ecosystems, the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 represents a truly collaborative effort to advance Karnataka’s Deep Tech Decade vision and accelerate global technology leadership.

About Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS)

BTS is organized by the Department of Electronics, IT, and Bt Government of Karnataka, and co-hosted by Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) Bangalore and driven by members of Karnataka’s Vision Groups on IT, Biotechnology, and Startups. BTS is the only event in India that has brought together leading cross-sectoral industry organizations like NASSCOM, IESA, ABAI, ABLE, TiE, USIBC on a common platform. The Event is curated by MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications.

For more details, visit www.bengalurutechsummit.com

Edelweiss Life Reports Its Highest-Ever Claim Settlement Ratio Of 99.29% In FY25

Edelweiss Life Insurance reported its highest-ever Claim Settlement Ratio of 99.29% in FY25. The claim settlement ratio measures the percentage of death claims paid out versus total claims received, serving as a key indicator of an insurer's reliability and commitment to policyholders.

Sumit Rai, MD & CEO, Edelweiss Life Insurance said, "Our moment of truth is when families need us most. Over the years, we have continuously refined our processes, simplified claim procedures, and equipped our teams to provide compassionate guidance during what can be an overwhelming time. This commitment to incremental improvement has enabled us to maintain claim settlement ratios above 99% for three consecutive years. These numbers represent more than operational efficiency - they reflect our promise to ensure families never feel alone when they need us most."

Over the last 5 years, the company has focussed on strengthening its claims performance by focussing on:

Advanced Technology Integration: Leveraging multiple data models and technologies to ensure genuine claims are processed swiftly while implementing judicious controls to ensure a smooth settlement process

Streamlined Back-End Processes: Continuous improvements in underwriting and advisory systems that have significantly reduced overall turnaround time for claims without inconveniencing claimants

Empathetic Customer Service: Providing clear guidance to help claimants submit complete documentation efficiently, reflecting sensitivity and understanding during difficult periods

Transparent Communication and Settlement: Keeping families informed at every step of the claims process so that claims are settled as quickly as possible

About Edelweiss Life Insurance

Edelweiss Life Insurance (formerly Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance) established nationwide operations in July 2011 with an immovable focus on protecting people’s dreams and aspirations. The company has been focussed on bringing innovation, simplicity, and a new-age approach to life insurance, aligned with the expectations of the customer today. It has been offering need-based and innovative life insurance solutions to help customers live their #zindagiunlimited. With a customer-centric approach, the company has been operating as a multi-channel distribution business to effectively serve its customers across the country.

Awards:

The company has earned recognition from several reputed industry forums over the years. Here are some noteworthy awards:

Organ donation initiative recognised as Best CSR initiative – Life Category at FICCI Insurance Industry Awards 2023

‘Bolt’ recognised under ‘Public & Private Collaboration’ category at NASSCOM Foundation TechForGood Awards 2024

Recognized as Great Place to Work for 4 consecutive years

Golden Peacock Award 2023 for Risk Management

Most Trusted BFSI Brands in 2023-2024 by the Marksmen Network

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for collecting the highest number of pledges for organ donation in a single day