With Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia gracing the launch, the Bengaluru centre unites academia, startups, and industry to fuel innovation across AI/ML, quantum computing and other emerging sectors.
Last week, Bengaluru witnessed the inauguration of a new tech R&D centre as a collaborative effort between Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), the Visvesvaraya Research and Innovation Foundation (VRIF), and Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCOE) India.
Named VTU-VRIF-TCOE Hub and Spoke Centre of Excellence (CoE), it was inaugurated by Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DONER).
According to the Ministry of Communications, the CoE is set to boost the innovation ecosystem focused on emerging technologies such as 5G/6G communications, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR), quantum computing, and healthcare.
It aims to support deep-tech research and facilitate startup incubation, with over 20 startups and 30 academic institutions already involved across multiple sectors. Tech companies, including Keysight Technologies and QpiAI, are backing the initiative. The skill development wing will be guided by the Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC).
Addressing the gathering at VTU, Minister Scindia highlighted Bengaluru’s significance in India’s tech sector, saying, “In the next decade, Silicon Valley will be seen as a version of Bengaluru.”
The Minister also praised Bengaluru’s rapid technological advancements, noting that in this city, “code is written over coffee, satellites are launched before traffic signals, and startups are born every minute.”
Additionally, he pointed to India’s growth in digital infrastructure, citing that the country now has over 974 million internet users, compared to just 250 million a decade ago.
In his speech, Minister Scindia also noted India’s evolution from a software services hub to a leader in product innovation. He said, “We once imported 90% of our mobile phones. Today, India exports mobile phones worth ₹2.5 trillion, including to the US.”
He toured the CoE’s facilities and engaged with startup innovators and academic researchers. Later, he also chaired a review meeting of the Bharat 6G Alliance to assess progress in India’s 6G initiatives.
