Karnataka State Innovation Council & Google launch ‘Innovation Karnataka’

Bangalore, March 19, 2013:

Today, Karnataka State Innovation Council (KSINC) and Google announced the “Innovation Karnataka” initiative and presented awards to four innovators from Karnataka – Kanaja, Sakala, mDhil and RedBus.

Through the newly released “Innovation Karnataka” report and the selection of Innovation Corps, this partnership has identified opportunities to foster a culture of innovation and is recognizing Karnataka’s role models who are positively contributing to society and the economy.

Commenting on the initiative, Professor H.P.Khincha, Chairman, KSInC said, “Karnataka has long been a pioneer in innovation and has driven India’s incredible emergence as a world leader in technology and
software. However, in these challenging economic times and a shaky global future, it is imperative that we stay ahead of the curve and consolidate our place as innovators. With this initiative and support from Google, we want to amplify the impact of Internet-driven innovation as more and more Indians come online.”

The Innovation Corps under the Innovation Karnataka initiative are:
●     Kanaja: Kanaja is an encyclopedic knowledge portal in Kannada, inspired by the Karnataka Knowledge Commission.

●     RedBus: Redbus allows people to buy tickets and check bus timetables online, even selecting their seats beforehand. The service, started in Bangalore, covers 4,500 routes across India.

●     mDhil: mDhil provides valuable information on sexual health, emotional wellness, cardiac health,
fitness, and more.

●     Sakala: With a comprehensive government services portal, Sakala aims to ensure that technology becomes a leveller for all citizens across Karnataka – be it a rural village in Bidar or the IT capital of India

Lalitesh Katragadda, Country Head- India Product, Google India said “The recent McKinsey study states that internet could potentially contribute up to USD 100 billion by 2015. Given the extraordinary employment potential of the internet, it is vital to create an environment where local innovators are inspired and empowered to create products with a global impact. At Google, we believe in the
power of the web to help the next billion in India connect, learn and reach their true potential. This initiative is another step towards the same direction.”