Bengaluru, November 26, 2024: At the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024, AssisTech Foundation (ATF) – India’s pioneering Assistive Technology (AT) ecosystem dedicated to empowering persons with disabilities – recognized cutting-edge accessibility solutions developed by enterprises and start-ups as well as significant assistive technology initiatives spearheaded by government bodies, non-profits, investors and educational institutes. The ATF Awards are India’s foremost and only awards that recognize outstanding contributions in the Assistive Technology space.

AssisTech Foundation played a pivotal leadership role in the Assistive Technology track at the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2024. Building upon the success of the 2023 AT track, this year’s edition aimed to further cement Bengaluru Tech Summit’s status as a global hub for innovation, awareness, and collaboration in the Assistive Technology space. The objective of the awards is to raise awareness, celebrate technology innovations and enable efforts that empower people with disabilities, promoting inclusivity and independence. Legendary cricketer Rahul Dravid, a long-time supporter of AssisTech Foundation, launched the inaugural ATF Awards in 2022.

The AssisTech Foundation presented ten awards in three categories to recognize innovative start-ups as well as corporates, non-profits, government bodies, educational institutions and investors who have leveraged the power of assistive technology to transform the lives of people with disabilities.

The awards were presented by Priyank Kharge – Hon’ble Minister for IT & BT and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Govt. of Karnataka, Dr. Ekroop Caur – IAS, Secretary to Government, Department of Electronics, IT, BT, and Science & Technology, Prashanth Prakash – Founding Partner, Accel Partners India, Surendra S – Managing Director – Infrastructure Services for APAC, Accenture, and IAS Darshan HV – Managing Director, Department of IT BT and KITS, Govt. of Karnataka.

The ATF Awards have been supported by Accenture, Microsoft, Shell & ThoughtWorks. In line with its commitment to disability inclusion, entrepreneurship, and fostering women-led innovation in Assistive Technology, Accenture will present a grant to the winner of the ‘Women Ahead – Best Assistive Technology Women-Led Startup’ award.

The award winners in their respective categories include –

Prateek Madhav, CEO & Co-Founder of AssisTech Foundation, commented on the occasion, “Building on the impressive success of the Assistive Technology track at the Bengaluru Tech Summit in 2023, we are proud to honour the winners of the ATF awards, whose contribution to the realm of assistive technology has enabled many people with disabilities to gain a new outlook on life. We remain deeply committed to extending the reach of AT to underserved communities across the country.”

AssisTech Foundation also hosted a panel discussion on the topic – ‘India’s AT Evolution: What Will Define Innovation, Policy, and Impact in the Coming Decade?’. The session hosted a panel of industry leaders including Rumi Mallick Mitra, Global Head, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, EY GDS, Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Surendra S Managing Director – Managing Director- Infrastructure Services for APAC , Accenture, Deepak Padaki, President of Catamaran, Akashdeep Bansal, Founder of Saralx and Dr. Ananthalakshmi Venkitaraman, Founder of Equibeing Foundation. The panel was moderated by Prateek Madhav, CEO & Co-founder of ATF.

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Bengaluru, November 22, 2024: AssisTech Foundation (ATF) is establishing India’s pioneering Assistive Technology (AT) ecosystem dedicated to accelerating AT innovations focused at helping the PwDs and elderly. Through its flagship initiative, ATF recognized the cutting-edge solutions developed by established and emerging start-ups and noteworthy AT initiatives led by enablers (Corporates, Govt. Organizations, NGOs, Investors & Educational Institutes) by presenting the prestigious ATF awards to them at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024. The ATF Awards is India’s foremost and only award for Assistive Technology ecosystem, recognizing startups, corporates, NGOs, educational institutions, and individuals making significant contributions to the AT sector.

AssisTech Foundation played a pivotal leadership role in the Assistive Technology track at the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2024. Building on the success of the 2023 AT track, this year’s edition aimed to further solidify Bengaluru Tech Summit as a global hub for innovation, awareness, and collaboration in the Assistive Technology space.

The objective of the awards was to raise awareness and celebrate technology innovations & enabling efforts that empower people with disabilities, promoting inclusivity and independence. Legendary cricketer Rahul Dravid, a strong supporter of AssisTech Foundation from the beginning, launched the inaugural ATF Awards back in 2022.

The AssisTech Foundation presented 10 awards in 3 categories to recognize the revolutionary start-ups, as well as the ecosystem enablers like corporates, NGOs, governments, educational institutions and investors who have leveraged the power of assistive technology and changed the lives of people with disabilities.

The awards were presented by Priyank Kharge – Hon’ble Minister for IT & BT and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Govt. of Karnataka, Dr. Ekroop Caur – IAS, Secretary to Government, Department of Electronics, IT, BT, and Science & Technology, Prashanth Prakash – Founding Partner, Accel Partners India, Surendra S – Managing Director, Accenture Advanced Technology Centre, India, Accenture, and IAS Darshan HV – Managing Director, Department of IT BT and KITS, Govt. of Karnataka.

ATF Awards has been supported by various organizations including Accenture, Microsoft, Shell & ThoughtWorks. In line with its commitment to disability inclusion, entrepreneurship, and fostering women-led innovation in assistive technology, Accenture will provide a grant-in-aid to the winner of the ‘Women Ahead – Best Assistive Technology Women-Led Startup’ award.

The award winners in their respective categories include –

Prateek Madhav, CEO & Co-Founder of AssisTech Foundation, commented on the occasion, “Building on the impressive success of the Assistive Technology track at the Bengaluru Tech Summit in 2023, we are proud to honour the winners of the ATF awards, whose contribution to the realm of assistive technology has enable many people with disabilities to gain a new outlook on life. We remain steadfast in our commitment to help this technology reach across the country to those less fortunate.”

The organization also hosted a first of its kind panel discussion on the topic – India’s AT Evolution: What Will Define Innovation, Policy, and Impact in the Coming Decade? The session saw a panel of esteemed industry leaders including Rumi Mallick Mitra, Global Head, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, EY GDS, Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Deepak Padaki, President of Catamaran, Akashdeep Bansal, Founder of Saralx and Dr. Ananthalakshmi Venkitaraman, Founder of Equibeing Foundation. The panel was moderated by Prateek Madhav, CEO & Co-founder of ATF.

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New Delhi, 3^rd September 2024: The Department of E, IT, Bt Government of Karnataka, under its Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) initiative, hosted the GIA Meet today to promote the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024 (BTS 2024) to its Global Innovation Alliance partner countries & international trade mission representatives. The Meet, held in Bengaluru, was graced by Shri Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister for IT, Bt, and Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Government of Karnataka. The Consul Generals of GIA countries along with Heads of International Trade Missions & different provinces of these countries participated in the event including Australia, Denmark, Israel, Japan, Switzerland, the USA, the UK, Poland, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy & many more. Shri Darshan H.V, IAS, Director, Dept. of Electronics, IT, Bt, and Managing Director, KITS, Govt. of Karnataka set the tone for the GIA Meet, detailed presentation on the event was provided by Dr. Ekroop Caur, IAS, Secretary to Government, Department of Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, Govt. of Karnataka, and Ms. Ruchi Bindal, IAS, Deputy Secretary, Dept. of E, IT, Bt Govt. of Karnataka concluded the event.

The Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) is an initiative of the Department of Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Government of Karnataka. The platform aims to create partnerships with leading countries in the field of technology and innovation. This programme was conceptualized in 2017 under the Karnataka Unit for International Co-operation (KUIC), and the GIA partners have grown exponentially, from 10 countries in 2018 to 30+ countries in 2024. The GIA Meet aimed to strengthen international cooperation, foster innovation, and invite global participation in the upcoming BTS 2024 scheduled from November 19-21, 2024, at the iconic Bangalore Palace.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Kharge, Hon’ble Minister for IT, Bt, and Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Government of Karnataka emphasized the importance of Bengaluru and Karnataka as a global hub for technology collaboration. He stated, “Bengaluru is not just the tech capital of India; it’s a globally recognized hub for innovation, research, and technology-driven growth. The state’s dynamic ecosystem has attracted over $45 billion in foreign direct investment, with global giants establishing significant R&D centers here. With over 15,000 startups and a startup valuation of $180 billion, Karnataka is at the forefront of global innovation. It is also the leading destination for Global Capability Centers (GCCs), with more than 400 centers already established in Bengaluru, making up over 40% of all GCCs in India. The Bengaluru Tech Summit has been instrumental in bringing together the brightest minds from around the world, and I strongly urge our Global Innovation Alliance partners to include BTS 2024 in their event calendars. Active participation will not only contribute to our shared technology future but also help continue creating high-quality jobs, driving economic growth, and building a more connected, sustainable, and inclusive world. Karnataka remains the destination of choice for global technology collaboration, and we look forward to welcoming our GIA partners to explore new opportunities and drive innovation together.”

International partners were invited to bring their country delegations, including both ministerial, academic, R&D, and corporate representatives, participate in the exhibition by setting up country pavilions to showcase their technological capabilities, hold meetings with representatives from various nations, and conduct focused sessions under the Global Collaboration Track in the conference.

Echoing the message from Shri Kharge, Dr. Ekroop Caur, Secretary to Government, Department of E, IT, Bt, and S&T, Government of Karnataka said, “GIA has been a key pillar in promoting Karnataka’s status as a global innovation hub, fostering partnerships with over 30 countries worldwide. Through these partnerships, Karnataka has successfully established itself as a vibrant centre for technology and innovation, creating a conducive environment for startups, entrepreneurs, and global corporations alike. The GIA Meet marks the start of global outreach efforts to ensure robust international participation in this as well as the future editions of Bengaluru Tech Summit.” 

Dr. Ekroop Caur presented an overview of the event along with new GIA initiatives which will be tailored to the requirements of the partner countries. She spoke about how the Government of Karnataka is actively enhancing its global engagement through several key initiatives aimed at fostering international collaboration for the state’s vibrant startup ecosystem. The Global Innovation Alliance Market Access Programme (GIA MAP) has successfully facilitated physical exploratory visits for growth-stage Karnataka startups to five countries—UAE, Singapore, Belgium, Australia, and Germany—across various tech segments, supporting 42 startups. Notably, the recent edition in North Rhine Westphalia, Germany, announced a Welcome Package offering €10,000 in financial support to Karnataka-based startups.

In addition, the GIA Mixer, a monthly event launched in August 2024, focuses on promoting collaboration with a new country each month, with the pilot edition featuring DeepTech and Fintech startups pitching to Australian counterparts. Furthering its commitment to nurturing innovation, the Department is in discussions with the UK’s Catapult Network and Paris’s Station F incubator to bolster Karnataka’s Centres of Excellence (CoEs) and support the growth of its startups. The Department has recently launched a newsletter: ‘The Innovation Chronicle’: a monthly guide to key events, initiatives, and industry highlights in ESDM, startups, IT, and biotech through different sections like Breaking news, Department Hub, Industry in Focus, Luminary talks, among many other interesting insights from the Department.

The event under the theme ‘Breaking Boundaries’, will provide unbound opprtunities that will feature a range of activities including a 6-track Conference covering IT & Deep Tech, Biotech & Healthtech, Startup Ecosystem, Global Innovation Alliance, India-USA Tech Conclave and newly added Electro-Semicon track. The Conference will host over 85 sessions featuring 460+ speakers. Each of these tracks are curated by a committee of experts from the industry, research and academia. Special programs like the India-USA Tech Conclave, CEO Conclave, Startup Conclave, and Fireside Chats with renowned personalities will also be featured. The International Exhibition with over 700 Exhibitors including  500+ startups will be a major hightlight with focused pavilions on Corporate & Industry, Global Innovation Alliance, Startup Zone, STPI National Showcase, MSME Pavilion, R&D Pavilion (Lab to Market), Leading States of India, Karnataka Showcase and Technology Parks. This year there is a special emphasis for the sectorial pavilions focusing on industry sectors like Biotech & Healthtech, Electro & Semicon, Telecom, Spacetech, Mobility, Greentech, Edutech, BFSI & Fintech and Animation & Gaming.

A host of networking events like B2B Partnering, Awards, Strategic Roundtables with GCCs, investors, startup ecosystem, satellite events like Beyond Bengaluru; as well as IT & Bio Quizzes, Poster showcase, Hackathon are some of the other highlights of the event.

The GIA meet also featured addresses from the Consul Generals including Ms. Hilary McGeachy, Consul General, Australia; Mr. Eske Rosenberg, Consul General, Denmark; Ms. Orli Weitzman,

Consul General, Israel; Mr. Nakane Tsutomu, Consul General, Japan; Mr. Jonas Brunschwig, Consul General, Switzerland; Mr. Chrisopher Hodges, Consul General, USA; Mr. James Godber, Deputy Head of Mission, UK and Ms. Anne Cremers, Deputy.

Consul General, Netherlands. They expressed their commitment to fostering deeper engagement with Karnataka’s thriving innovation ecosystem and participating in Bengaluru Tech Summit.

BTS 2024 is set to bring together global thought leaders, industry executives, technology experts, policymakers, and investors to explore the latest trends and developments in technology and innovation. As the event approaches, it heralds a new era of unbound technological innovation and expansive global collaboration.

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