Invest Karnataka 2025: From Australia To Morocco, Global Investors Focus On AI To Space In Namma Bengaluru

Global investors across the world have poured a series of investments into the state of Karnataka in the past 48 hours. From green energy to AI to healthcare research, delegates from different parts of the world participated in the Invest Karnataka 2025 summit. In an extensive coverage, the GoodReturns (Oneindia) Bengaluru team spoke to economists, corporations, startups, ambassadors to India, and even students to get a holistic view of trade, policies, and incoming investments in India.

The Invest Karnataka summit is happening amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi's crucial meeting with US President Donald Trump to discuss bilateral ties. Indeed, it is crystal clear that the whole world is looking at India for partnerships, financial agreements, and investments. The seventh edition of the Invest Karnataka 2025 Global Investors Meet in the IT capital of India, Bengaluru, commenced with its inauguration on February 11, 2025, at 4 PM, followed by the main events spanning from February 12 to 14, 2025, at the Bangalore Palace in Bengaluru.

Living up to the theme this year, "Reimagine Growth," the summit features a comprehensive schedule, including plenary sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, all aimed at creating investment and showcasing Karnataka's potential as a major business destination. Also, prominent figures like Dr. Devi Shetty and former ISRO Chairman S. Somnath participated in the panel discussions.

Strengthening Global Relations at Invest Karnataka 2025

The Invest Karnataka 2025 event attracted a large group of global and domestic investors, along with foreign delegates eager to strengthen trade and diplomatic ties with India. "We're seeing two big patterns at the moment. One, Australia and India have free trade agreements. So that means that the volume of trade between Australia and India, and specifically Karnataka, is increasing," said Hilary McGeachy, Australian Consul-General in India, Bengaluru, in an exclusive interview with GoodReturns.

"India can access Australian products easily. We also see Australian products on the shelves here in Bengaluru, and Australia has a great range of critical minerals, very much essential for India."

One of the key highlights of the event was a panel discussion on Industry 5.0, titled "Redefining Manufacturing for the Human-Centric Revolution."

In another exclusive conversation, Charles Ross, Principal, Technology and Society, Asia-Pacific, Economist Impact, discussed the transformative role of AI in manufacturing.

"It's been a great session here at Invest Karnataka 2025, and we've had active discussions, and we are excited about the potential of AI innovation. Most companies are exploring how AI can be integrated into their operations, with many experimenting and already seeing significant gains in productivity," Ross shared.

He further emphasized that while AI adoption is still emerging, its impact is fundamental, with companies figuring out the major areas for integration. On the topic of job cuts due to AI, Ross said that "I don't think AI would replace any jobs but rather enhance work. AI is only going to add value to existing roles, and new job opportunities will emerge as a result."

Orli Weitzman, Consul General of Israel in Bengaluru, outlined how the bilateral partnership aims to drive economic growth in various sectors. She emphasized how Invest Karnataka 2025 will serve as a platform for Israeli companies to collaborate with Indian firms, particularly in areas such as AI.

His Excellency. Mr. Mohamed Maliki, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to India, emphasized the investment plans between India and Morocco, stating, "Morocco is one of the largest public investment hubs, with strategic ties with key companies. Plans for investment from Karnataka to Morocco are already in motion, with upcoming strategic partnerships across multiple sectors. India sees Morocco as an ideal partner, especially with the growing difficulty of exports with zero taxes, which is very difficult these days."

VentuRISE: Major Boost To Emerging Startups

The Invest Karnataka event gave a platform for the major startups with 'VentuRISE,' which is a startup challenge that was hosted as part of the Invest Karnataka Global Investors Meet, aiming to support innovative startups in key sectors. The initiative provides a platform for startups to showcase their solutions, connect with investors, and gain recognition on a global stage.

For the 2025 edition, VentuRISE is centered around three key sectors: Electronics Systems Design & Manufacturing (ESDM), Electric Vehicles (EV) & Clean Mobility, and Aerospace & Defence. Startups working in these fields pitched their innovative ideas, addressing specific industry challenges such as IoT-based smart grids, AI-driven inspection systems, and sustainable urban mobility solutions.

As part of VentuRISE, we spoke with Prabhu Stavarmath from Bharat Pi, one of the selected startups in VentuRISE, who shared insights on how Invest Karnataka 2025 can play a major role in scaling businesses by providing funding opportunities, investor connections, and industry exposure.

In the Electric Vehicles (EV) & Clean Mobility segment, we interacted with Amar Naik from Sarla Aviation, who introduced an innovative EV air taxi 'Shunya' set to launch operations in 2028. This futuristic electric helicopter, designed for urban air mobility, will revolutionize transportation by offering quick and efficient connectivity between Bengaluru Airport and Electronic City. There were other various groundbreaking innovations being showcased at the Global Investors Meet 2025.

Major Investments From AI To Green Energy

Invest Karnataka 2025 so far saw massive investments across various sectors, with Rs. 1.5 lakh crore pledged for renewable energy by JSW Neo Energy, Tata Power, and ReNew Pvt. Ltd. Baldota Steel & JSW Group invested Rs.98,000 crore in steel and cement, while Lam Research, Epsilon Group, and Emmvee Energy committed Rs.40,000 crore to semiconductors, batteries, and solar tech. Sotefin Bharat allocated Rs. 8,500 crore for automated parking, while Honda, Schneider Electric, and TVS Motor made strategic EV and R&D investments. These investments at the global investors meet are expected to drive more growth and innovation in Karnataka.