Bengaluru: The Karnataka government, Bengaluru Airport City Ltd (BACL), and tech services firm ANSR have jointly launched District I, an expansive innovation hub at the Bengaluru Airport City. The announcement was made on 17 June and marks a significant step in transforming the region into a collaborative tech ecosystem.
Spanning 28 million square feet, District I is designed to bring together startups, global capability centres (GCCs), IT firms, academic institutions, venture capitalists, accelerators and public sector bodies under a unified framework.
The project will focus on frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, blockchain, and customer experience (CX), while fostering innovation in high-impact sectors including aerospace, defence, smart cities, retail, telecom, space and BFSI.
The initiative aims to act as a launchpad for startups and a commercialisation platform for academic research, alongside offering co-innovation spaces for enterprises.
Bengaluru Airport City Ltd. (BACL) in partnership with the Government of Karnataka and ANSR has launched a Global Innovation Hub, District I — a pioneering initiative within BACL’s Business Park, that aims to unify and elevate India’s innovation ecosystem to a global scale.… pic.twitter.com/MKzcFJbfTn
— BLR Airport (@BLRAirport) June 17, 2025
Government officials said the project will not only enhance job creation but also enable the development of intellectual property and advance India’s standing in global tech leadership.
Ekroop Caur, Secretary of Karnataka’s Department of Electronics, IT, BT and Science & Technology, said the project reaffirms Bengaluru’s pivotal role in shaping the future of India’s tech economy. BACL CEO Rao Munukutla added that District I is expected to inspire a shift in mindset, from job seekers to job creators, supported by world-class infrastructure.
According to ANSR CEO Lalit Ahuja, the innovation district is set to “redraw the global map of innovation” by integrating key players in tech development and fostering collaboration across the board.
The Bengaluru Airport City, where District I is located, is already equipped with modern infrastructure such as a 3D printing facility and a central kitchen. The area is being developed as a sustainable, smart urban zone powered by renewable energy and aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The project will be led by BACL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which is spearheading the development of this next-generation urban innovation destination.
