Karnataka Government Holds Talks with ExxonMobil to Expand Bengaluru R&D and Startup Partnerships

Karnataka Electronics, IT, and BT Minister Priyank Kharge held high-level discussions with Scott Sandlin, India Country Chair for ExxonMobil, to explore expanding the global energy giant’s operational footprint in Bengaluru. The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between the state government and ExxonMobil in key areas including skill development programs, technical training, joint incubation for technology startups, and open innovation challenges. ExxonMobil has maintained a presence in Bengaluru for nearly three decades and established a major technology and research and development hub in the city in 2015. Minister Kharge stated that the discussion aimed at leveraging Bengaluru’s tech ecosystem to drive advance research in energy transition, software engineering, and clean technology. The state government expressed its commitment to facilitating infrastructure and institutional support to encourage multinational corporations to scale up their R&D operations, creating high-skilled job opportunities for regional engineering talent.