Belagavi has the potential to become an IT hub, but ecosystem needs to catch up: Study

KLS IMER study involving 185 stakeholders highlights Belagavi’s quality of life, talent pool and startup potential, while pointing to gaps in coordination, employment and infrastructure

BELAGAVI: Belagavi has many of the ingredients needed to emerge as an Information Technology destination, but converting that potential into a sustainable IT ecosystem will require stronger coordination between government, industry, educational institutions and entrepreneurs.

This is among the key findings of a stakeholder-based study conducted by MBA students of KLS Institute of Management Education and Research (IMER), Belagavi. The study surveyed 185 respondents comprising students, IT professionals, startup founders, entrepreneurs and academicians.

The findings present a cautiously positive picture of Belagavi’s prospects as an IT hub.

67% would recommend Belagavi for IT companies

Around 67% of respondents said they would recommend Belagavi as a location for IT companies, indicating that the city already has attributes that could make it attractive to technology businesses.

However, only 55% expressed a positive outlook towards Belagavi emerging as an IT hub, while a significant section remained neutral. The study suggests that while stakeholders recognise the opportunity, there is still uncertainty about whether the city has the ecosystem required to support sustained technology-sector growth.

The gap between the two figures is significant. It indicates that the challenge is not merely about promoting Belagavi to technology companies, but about creating the conditions that would encourage companies to establish, remain and expand their operations in the city.

Quality of life could be Belagavi’s advantage

One of the strongest positives identified by the study is Belagavi’s quality of life.

Around 77% of respondents viewed the city’s quality of life favourably compared with metropolitan cities, while 80% considered Belagavi safe to live, study and work in.

The study notes that these factors could become an important competitive advantage when attracting both companies and skilled professionals.

Stakeholder interviews also indicated that technology-led growth is welcomed, but there is a desire to ensure that development does not come at the cost of the city’s existing character.

Rather than trying to become another metropolitan city, the study suggests Belagavi could use its relatively peaceful and liveable environment as part of its identity as a technology destination.

Coordination emerges as a major gap

While Belagavi has educational institutions, businesses and a young talent pool, the study identifies coordination between government, industry and academia as a significant weakness.

Only 40% of respondents felt that government, industry and academia currently coordinate effectively on IT-sector initiatives.

The study recommends structured partnerships between colleges and technology companies, industry-led skill development, internships, live projects, government-industry coordination and stronger startup networks.

Keeping local talent in Belagavi

Talent retention is another important issue highlighted by the research.

Belagavi’s educational institutions produce graduates in engineering, management and other disciplines. However, the concentration of attractive technology careers in larger cities continues to create an incentive for young professionals to move out.

The study argues that creating quality technology jobs in Belagavi could give graduates a genuine choice to build their careers locally rather than leaving the city in search of professional opportunities.

This, however, would require more than simply bringing companies to the city. Competitive salaries, career progression, industry exposure and continuous skill development would also influence whether local talent chooses to stay.

Stronger industry-academia connect needed

The study identifies industry-academia collaboration as a critical component of IT-hub readiness.

It recommends greater emphasis on internships, live projects, industrial visits, mentorship and industry-oriented curricula to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the requirements of technology companies.

Such partnerships could simultaneously help companies access local talent and give students greater exposure to real-world technology careers.

Startup ecosystem can create another growth engine

Startups are another potential route for technology-led growth in Belagavi.

The study calls for stronger incubation, mentorship, funding and networking opportunities so that students and professionals with ideas can build businesses locally.

Successful ventures could subsequently create jobs, attract investment and contribute to the development of a wider technology community in the city.

What needs to change?

The study identifies several areas that could strengthen Belagavi’s IT ecosystem:

• Stronger coordination between government, industry, academia and entrepreneurs.
• Attraction of technology companies capable of creating quality local employment.
• Greater college-company collaboration through internships, live projects and skill development.
• Expansion of startup incubation, mentorship, funding and networking.
• Development of dedicated IT parks, modern technology workspaces and reliable digital infrastructure where required.
• Positioning Belagavi’s quality of life as an advantage while ensuring technology-led growth complements the city’s existing character.

From potential to execution

The study makes one thing clear: the question is no longer simply whether Belagavi has the potential to become an IT destination. Stakeholder perceptions indicate that the potential is already visible.

The bigger challenge is converting that potential into a functioning ecosystem that creates jobs, retains talent, supports entrepreneurs and attracts investment.

The research also makes a case for a distinctly Belagavi approach to technology growth — one that embraces new opportunities without attempting to replicate the model of a large metropolitan city.

The study was based on descriptive research and purposive sampling, with primary data collected through structured questionnaires and qualitative responses examined thematically. It focused on infrastructure, government support, digital connectivity, employment, talent, startups and industry-academia collaboration. The researchers caution that the findings represent stakeholder perceptions and are not intended to represent every resident of Belagavi.

The message from the study is therefore clear: Belagavi may already have the foundation for an IT story. What it needs now is the ecosystem, coordination and execution to turn that foundation into a reality.

Research Team

Corresponding Author & Editorial Lead: Mahi Kinjawadekar

Research Contributors: Sakshi Wajave, Bhavana Kakatkar, Rahul Vernekar, Pallavi Bulbule, Anoop Kulekar, Ashwath Talawar, Richa Sadaver, Tejas Sutar and Mustabeen Athani.

The study was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Ajay Jamnani, Associate Professor, and Prof. Atul Kadam, Assistant Professor, KLS Institute of Management Education and Research (IMER), Belagavi, with support from the KLS IMER management and Dr. Arif Shaikh, Director, KLS IMER.