The Hubs titled as Common Instrumentation Facilities, are a chain of hardware product startup incubators across the state of Karnataka, spanning around 40,000 sq.ft.. These have been set up by Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), under the Department of IT, BT and S&T, Govt. of Karnataka in partnership with IKP Knowledge Park, Hyderabad. The goal is to make Karnataka a leader in hardware product startups. The 5 centres are at Belagavi, Jalahalli (Bengaluru), Mangaluru, Mysuru and Shivamogga.
Designed as a Hub and spoke model, the central hub IKP-EDEN is one of the first makerspace linked Incubation centre at Bengaluru and the 5 centres are essentially modelled on the lines of EDEN. The centres receive high end mentoring support, resources access and technical expertise from EDEN and IKP Knowledge Park, Hyderabad one of India’s largest Research and Innovation Park for Life Sciences in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, Telangana.
Each centre offers a shared prototyping facility with equipment such as Woodworking workshop, 3D printing, Metal Shop, Laser Cutting, Basic Electronics lab, Hand tools, Welding etc. In addition the startups get access to incubation services, mentor and investor connects and also to co-working space, private office spaces, training rooms, and other amenities. The IKP network developed over a period of two decades provides opportunities for startups to meet advisers, mentors, investors and other stakeholders.
The centres are an ideal place for learning and working for founders, enthusiasts, hobbyists and other inquisitive minds across age groups. They currently house about 70 startup companies and teams. Capacity building workshops, awareness events, bootcamps and networking events are regularly conducted for the benefit of Startups, students, working professionals etc..