Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026: Building the Workforce of Tomorrow

Bengaluru, 02 November 2026: The Government of Karnataka’s Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood (SDEL) is preparing to host the second iteration of the Bengaluru Skill Summit, scheduled for 3–5 November 2026 at The Lalit Ashok Bengaluru. This event is being organized by the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC) in partnership with the Karnataka Skill Development Authority (KSDA) and the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), which serves as the Knowledge Partner, with management provided by Trescon. With Japan participating as the country partner for this year’s event, the Summit will convene government officials, industry leaders, academic experts, international delegates, and youth to drive workforce development and skilling initiatives across Karnataka. The second edition is dedicated to reinforcing skilling frameworks, synchronizing training with industry requirements, broadening access to future-ready skills, and fostering international partnerships.

Returning after its successful debut in November 2025, the Summit is anchored by the theme "Workforce 2030: Scale, Systems, Synergy." It serves as a convergence point for policymakers, industry veterans, academic institutions, training providers, international stakeholders, and the youth, all aiming to address workforce needs and bridge the gap between education, skill acquisition, and employment.

The Summit will focus on Four Thematic Tracks:

• Emerging Skills: Focusing on readiness for green jobs, artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0, the digital economy, and other high-growth areas.
• Skills for All: Promoting inclusivity for women, youth, informal workers, and those in the gig economy.
• Innovation: Highlighting global and local best practices alongside ecosystem innovations in the skilling sector.
• Global Skills: Preparing Karnataka’s workforce for international employability and mobility.

Projections for the Summit include an attendance of over 6,500 participants, featuring more than 150 speakers, 100 partners, and 50 exhibitors. The agenda will emphasize practical strategies for workforce development, covering industry-led training, emerging technologies, institutional frameworks, inclusive participation, and global talent mobility.

The inauguration ceremony will be led by Shri D. K. Shivakumar, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, with the presence of Dr. G. Parameshwara, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka. Dr. Sharanprakash R. Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Medical Education and Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood, Government of Karnataka, will preside over the event.

The distinguished Guests of Honour will include Dr. M. B. Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development; Shri Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister for Home, Information Technology and Biotechnology, and E-Governance; Shri Basavaraja Rayareddy, Hon’ble Minister for Higher Education; Shri Santosh S. Lad, Hon’ble Minister for Labour; Shri Rizwan Arshad, Hon’ble Minister for Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs; and Shri Vijayananda Kashappanavar, Hon’ble Minister for Small Scale Industries and Public Enterprises, Government of Karnataka.

The distinguished dignitaries will also include Smt. Shivakantamma (Kanta) Naik, Chairperson, Karnataka Skill Development Corporation and Karnataka Vocational Training & Skill Development Corporation; Shri Subroto Bagchi, Chairman, Vision Group for Skill Development, Government of Karnataka; Shri Guruprasad Mudlapur, President, Bosch Group in India and Managing Director, Bosch Limited; Shri Rangesh Raghavan, Corporate Vice President and Managing Director, Lam Research India; Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka; Smt. Uma Mahadevan, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Development Commissioner, Government of Karnataka; Dr. E. V. Ramana Reddy, IAS (R), Chairman, Karnataka Skill Development Authority; Shri Subodh Yadav, IAS, Principal Secretary to Government, Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood; Smt. Vasireddi Vijaya Jyothsna, IAS, Mission Director, National Livelihood Mission; Smt. Shilpa M, IAS, Commissioner, Department of Industrial Training and Employment; and Dr. Ravi M. Tirlapur, KAS, Managing Director, Karnataka Skill Development Corporation and Karnataka Vocational Training & Skill Development Corporation.

Advancing the Workforce 2030 agenda

The programme is designed to integrate policy discussions, industry engagement, knowledge sharing, and live demonstrations to evaluate how Karnataka can bolster its workforce systems and improve the synergy between training and job placement.

Primary areas of focus include emerging skills, inclusive training, innovation in delivery methods, global skill standards, workforce mobility, and employer-driven curriculum design. The event structure also incorporates policy and industry roundtables, the Skill Expo, the Innovation Stage, the CoE Pavilion, and the Country Partner Pavilion.

These platforms are designed to facilitate cooperation among policymakers, employers, academic institutions, training providers, and international partners, with a specific focus on scalable workforce development strategies.

Speakers and participating leaders

The Summit will convene leaders from government, industry, academia, technology, entrepreneurship, and international organizations to deliberate on workforce planning, the alignment of education with industry, emerging technologies, and the future of skilling.

The key speakers list includes Subroto Bagchi, Chairman, Vision Group for Skill Development, Government of Karnataka; Mrs. Debashree Banerjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, Dr. Gururaj ‘Desh’ Deshpande, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Ecosystem Builder, Deshpande Foundation; N. S. Parthasarathy, Managing Partner, Mela Ventures; Biren Ghose, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Astra Studios and Uma Mahadevan, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, Government of Karnataka.

Other speakers include Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair (Kirti Chakra), Astronaut, Sci/Eng ‘G’, ISRO, and Air Commodore, IAF; Hiroshi Nawata, Consul General, Consulate General of Japan in Bengaluru; Annett Baessler, Deputy Head, Consulate General of Germany in Bengaluru; Dr. Vivek Raghavan, Co-Founder, Sarvam AI, Ankush Sabharwal, Founder & CEO, CoRover.ai: Ajay Vij, Senior Country Managing DirectorAccenture Solutions Pvt Ltd, India and Kaushik Mudda, Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, Ethereal Machines. Click here to view a full list of speakers.

Industry and ecosystem partners backing workforce development

Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026 brings together organizations dedicated to investing in skill development, talent acquisition, and workforce capabilities across India. Their involvement highlights the critical role of industry, education, technology, and skilling institutions in strengthening the link between learning, employability, and the evolving demands of the economy.

The Summit features a strong network of leading industry partners, academic institutions, and skilling organizations, including Accenture, Pearson, HCL Foundation, IIMBx Learning Foundation, TVS Skills, NASSCOM – Future Skills Prime, Deshpande Skilling, Tally Education, Goethe-Institut, SOULT, Dharwad Research and Technology Incubator Foundation, and Ramaiah Technology and Business Incubator. Click here to view full list.

Through their participation, these organizations contribute to a broader ecosystem focused on enhancing skills, supporting talent development, and advancing strategies that address changing workforce requirements. Their association with the Summit emphasizes the necessity of sustained collaboration between industry, education, and skilling institutions in preparing India's workforce for emerging opportunities.

Leadership perspectives on Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026

Commenting on the Summit, Dr. Sharanprakash Rudrappa Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Medical Education and Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood, Government of Karnataka, said:

"Karnataka is committed to building a workforce that can respond to emerging industry needs, embrace technological change and contribute to the opportunities of a rapidly evolving global economy. Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026 advances this vision by bringing government, industry, academia and international partners together to strengthen the connection between education, skills and employment. Our focus is to build an inclusive, industry-aligned and future-ready skilling ecosystem that empowers our youth to become skilled professionals, innovators and entrepreneurs."

Smt. Shivakantamma (Kanta) Naik, Chairperson, Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC) and Karnataka Vocational Training & Skill Development Corporation (KVTSDC), said:

"A strong workforce is built by creating opportunities for people to develop their capabilities, adapt to change and participate meaningfully in the economy. Karnataka’s skilling ecosystem must continue to evolve in response to the aspirations of its youth, the needs of industry and the opportunities emerging across sectors. Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026 brings these priorities together, creating space for collaboration, innovation and shared learning. Through stronger partnerships and a focus on inclusive workforce development, we can help build a future-ready Karnataka where skills open pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods."

Shri Subodh Yadav, IAS, Principal Secretary to Government, Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, said:

"Building a future-ready workforce requires more than individual skilling initiatives. It calls for coordinated systems, stronger institutional partnerships and a clear alignment between training and workforce demand. Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026 provides an important platform to advance this agenda by bringing stakeholders together to identify priorities, strengthen implementation and develop scalable approaches to workforce development. Through sustained collaboration, Karnataka aims to create a skilling ecosystem that is responsive, inclusive and aligned with the needs of a changing economy."

Dr. E. V. Ramana Reddy, IAS (R), Chairman, Karnataka Skill Development Authority (KSDA), said:

"Workforce 2030 represents a long-term commitment to strengthening how Karnataka anticipates, develops and deploys talent. Achieving this vision requires stronger coordination across institutions, evidence-informed planning and closer collaboration between government, industry and academia. Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026 creates a platform to advance these priorities, explore emerging workforce needs and build approaches that can be scaled across sectors. By translating collaboration into coordinated action, we can strengthen Karnataka’s position in the national and global talent ecosystem."

Dr. Ravi M. Tirlapur, KAS, Managing Director, Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC), said:

"The next phase of Karnataka’s skilling journey must focus on translating ambition into implementation and measurable progress. At KSDC, our priority is to strengthen the pathways connecting skill development, industry requirements and employment opportunities. Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026 brings this agenda into focus through industry engagement, knowledge exchange, innovation showcases and discussions on scalable skilling models. It is an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and advance practical approaches that support workforce readiness across Karnataka."

Building a future-ready workforce

The Summit aims to improve the alignment between education and industry demand, facilitate outcome-driven skilling systems, and deepen cooperation among government, industry, and academic institutions. Discussions will explore how workforce planning, training quality, emerging technologies, and international partnerships can support employment pathways and a more inclusive talent ecosystem.

The Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026 will take place from 3–5 November 2026 at The Lalit Ashok Bengaluru. Participation is through the Summit’s registration and admission process.

Register here: https://bengaluruskillsummit.com/get-involved/

For more information, visit www.bengaluruskillsummit.com.

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