150 tech hubs PM opened in Karnataka to be also accessible to startups for a fee

Tata Technologies, in a PPP collaboration with the Karnataka government, has turned around 150 industrial training institutes (ITIs) into technology hubs aiming to address the vast skill gaps industries are battling. While the entire project cost Rs 4850 crore, the Tatas and 20 other companies contributed Rs 4080 crore with a promise to handhold them for five years.

The PM, dedicating them to the nation on June 20, urged other states to adopt the model. The ITIs will train students in the most advanced skills including in the emerging areas of technology.

The institutes have advanced technology labs in areas such as additive manufacturing, automotive manufacturing, EVs, industrial robotics with arc welding, product design and verification, advanced manufacturing system, IoT, industrial automation and advanced plumbing.

“The startups across sectors as well as other small and medium industries are free to use the advanced design, 3-D printing and other facilities to work on and finetune their products as well as test them. We will charge them a fee,” S Selvakumar, Principal Secretary at Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood department, told ET.

This will be of big help to young entrepreneurs who are just starting up as well as other small industrial units, especially in smaller towns, he added. The ITIs are spread across the state, and the government is set to upgrade another 30 institutes this year.

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They are designed to offer 23 short-term and 11 long-term courses, and they together will produce one lakh plus skilled manpower every year. Short-term courses are typically 3–4-months duration, helping professionals to step up their skills.

Tata Technologies, in a recent press release, said it has collaborated with 20 global industry partners to implement the project which included developing the course curriculum leveraging its own manufacturing domain knowledge around advanced areas of technology, conduct training programs, and provide equipment and software support.

The company has also deployed 300 training personnel along with industry partners. Tata Technologies aims to upgrade the skills of the basic workforce as per future industry requirements and offer a platform to participants to help them get preference for placements.

“We are training all our teachers. We have four studios set up in different parts of the state. All the institutes are connected via satellite. Last year we admitted students for two courses and this year we will be admitting for six courses in all ITIs,” Selvakumar said.

In November 2020, Tata Technologies had signed an MoU with the Karnataka government offering to upgrade and modernize 150 ITIs and support them over a five-year period. The Skill Development department, he said, has created its own Udyoga Society to generate its own revenue for self-sustenance.

The ITI upgradation project took just about 18 months with the Tata Technologies supplying equipment and technology and the Nirmithi Kendras building other infrastructure.

“Our workshops and technology labs will be in use for 12 hours a day. Fees from students as well as industries that use our labs will be our main sources of income to meet operational expenses,” Selvakumar said.