Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: As India’s innovation economy enters a dynamic new phase, Goa is stepping up as a promising player on the national tech map. The state government hosted “Goa Tech Meet: The Future in Focus” — a high-impact industry dialogue led by the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (ITE&C), under the stewardship of Hon’ble Minister Shri Rohan A. Khaunte.
Held at Miramar, Panaji, the exclusive gathering brought together top tech founders, entrepreneurs, and creative industry leaders to engage directly with government officials on shaping Goa’s emergence as a digital innovation, electronics manufacturing, and creative tech hub.
Key dignitaries included Shri Pramival Abhishek (IAS), MD of Goa Industrial Development Corporation; Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director of DITE&C; Dr. Milind Sakhardande, Joint Director of DITE&C; Shri Nijanand Vasta, Deputy Director; Smt. Priyatama Patil, Assistant Director; Shri Neville Noronha, OSD to the Minister; and Shri D. S. Prashant, CEO of the Startup & IT Promotion Cell (SITPC).
Building Goa as India’s Creative Capital
Central to the meet was the government’s bold vision of positioning Goa as India’s Creative Capital—where technology, culture, lifestyle, and entrepreneurship converge. The event highlighted ongoing efforts to foster an ecosystem centered on AI, Industry 4.0, sustainable tech, and design-led innovation.
“We are not here to build events—we are here to build ecosystems,” said Minister Khaunte. “More future-focused companies are choosing Goa to innovate and grow. Our role is to ensure this momentum not only continues but accelerates.”
Strategic Initiatives Driving Growth
The state presented a layered approach to catalyze digital transformation, including:
• Infrastructure Boost: Development of the Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) in Tuem.
• Policy Reforms: Upgraded Startup and IT policies to support a high-growth environment.
• Support for Creative Talent: New initiatives such as the Design Village and frameworks for digital nomads.
• Talent Development: Focused investment in skilling, reskilling, and upskilling to future-proof the local workforce.
Director of DITE&C, Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar, noted in his address, “From EMCs to startup grants and co-working hubs, we are creating a truly enabling ecosystem. Today is about turning potential into lasting partnerships.”
Shri D. S. Prashant, CEO of SITPC, outlined Goa’s roadmap to 2027 with its focus on Infrastructure, Communication, and Training (ICT), while championing next-gen concepts like digital nomad zones and creative clusters.
Industry Confidence and Collaboration
Prominent firms such as CHALO, Quidich Innovation Labs, Persistent Systems, Turtlemint, Kilowott, Zimetrics Technologies, Infuse Consulting, Renevik Labs, Visteon Corporation, Open Destinations, and McLaren/The Grit City joined the dialogue. Creative enterprises like Coco Leni, The Nod Magazine, 101 Wakepark, and TM Talent Management added their voices, highlighting Goa’s appeal as a lifestyle-tech destination that balances innovation with quality of life.
Participants noted that Goa offers an attractive alternative to crowded metro tech hubs, citing responsive governance and an emerging innovation culture as key draws.
A Roadmap for the Future
With industry input now feeding directly into policy updates and infrastructure planning, the Goa Tech Meet set the stage for sustained public-private collaboration. The Department of ITE&C plans to hold further engagements focused on talent building, market access, and startup scaling.
“We are designing Goa’s growth story with focus and cooperation,” Minister Khaunte concluded. “This is about outcomes, not optics. We’re aligning industry needs with state vision to build a future-ready Goa.”
“Goa Tech Meet: The Future in Focus” underlined the state’s growing reputation as a vibrant intersection of innovation, creativity, and opportunity. With robust institutional backing, forward-looking policy, and a high quality of life, Goa is poised to welcome the next generation of startups, technologists, and investors ready to shape what’s next
