Karnataka’s Davos push draws big-ticket interest in data centres and green energy

Karnataka put up a strong showing at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos over the last two days, holding extensive engagements with global investors and securing multiple investment commitments across key sectors. Senior state leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Industries Minister MB Patil , held more than 50 high-level meetings with global corporations, pitching Karnataka as a future-ready investment destination anchored by Bengaluru’s innovation ecosystem .

The state government signed around eight memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with international and domestic companies during these engagements, with the total proposed investment pegged at approximately ₹23,000 crore . These MoUs span sectors such as data centres, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, digital skilling and research partnerships. Officials said the agreements reflect both immediate investment intent and longer-term expansion plans in Karnataka.

Among the major proposals discussed was a hyperscale data centre project by Web Werks , which has expressed interest in investing up to ₹20,000 crore in Karnataka over the coming years. The RPSG Group also announced plans to invest around ₹10,500 crore in renewable energy and allied projects in districts such as Ballari and Vijayapura. In addition, Microsoft has agreed to collaborate with the state on digital skilling and talent development initiatives, while several global firms have shown interest in setting up R&D and innovation facilities.

During the two-day engagement, Karnataka’s leadership emphasised the state’s strengths in talent availability, infrastructure development and policy support. Bengaluru was projected as a global gateway to India’s technology and innovation economy, while equal focus was placed on expanding investments into tier-2 and tier-3 cities to ensure balanced regional growth. The state also highlighted ongoing investments in metro expansion, urban mobility, renewable energy and industrial infrastructure to support future growth.

Officials described the Davos interactions as a mix of formal MoU signings and exploratory discussions that are expected to translate into concrete investments over the next one to three years. They said Karnataka’s strong economic base and established presence in technology and manufacturing continue to make it a preferred destination for global investors looking to expand in India.