Nokia Corporation, a global telecom technology player, has expressed its interest in setting up a Global Capability Center (GCC) and research centers in Karnataka, according to Industries Minister MB Patil.
Nokia, which has enjoyed a long-term association with the state for over 25 years and operates its largest global research center in Bengaluru, has been in discussions to expand its operations across Karnataka, including its Tier-2 cities.
During a meeting with senior officials of Nokia at the ongoing World Economic Forum summit in Davos, the state government has assured full support to the company’s future expansion plans, the minister said.
The minister also reiterated the state government’s commitment to support the World Economic Forum’s ‘Yes–BLR UpLink’ initiative, which seeks to develop the ‘Yes Bengaluru’ agenda on sustainable urban development into a globally recognized platform for government-industry collaboration.
Mr Patil said the matter was discussed in detail during a meeting with John Dutton, head of UpLink at the World Economic Forum. The initiative provides financial assistance, mentorship and pilot opportunities to start-ups working on real-world, city-focused challenges and contributing to urban development. The WEF UpLink delegation appreciated the Karnataka government’s continued support for the initiative, he added.
He said there were also discussions with major global cyber security vendor Cloudflare about joining the “KWIN City” project and the possibility of future expansion. According to Mr. Patil, American space technology company Vast Space has also expressed interest in partnering with Karnataka in areas related to space technology, advanced manufacturing and innovation-based initiatives.
Among the firms that have expressed interest in partnerships and agreements with the state are Crescent Enterprises, a multinational business group based in the United Arab Emirates, and Voyager Technologies, a US-based aerospace company. Voyager has also signed up to collaborate with ISRO on space technology and research initiatives, according to a statement issued by its ministry.
Published – 23 Jan 2026 21:01 IST
