Bengaluru Sona Star Innovations Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of the Sona Valliappa Group, one of India’s leading business groups, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) to establish a statewide skilling initiative aimed at preparing 3,000 students over the next five years for careers in global and digital sectors. The Sona Center for Advanced Learning and Entrepreneurship (SCALE), Sona’s initiative for higher education and training, will provide instruction at a new campus in Bidadi. This collaboration centers around SCALE, which extends its reach beyond Bangalore. The training program will launch with an initial batch of 500–1,000 students in 2026–27, targeting regions including Tumakuru, Belagavi, Mangaluru, Hubballi, Shivamogga, and Dharwad.
Thyagu Valliappa, Vice Chairman of the Sona Group of Institutions, stated, “Many students enter the workforce lacking clarity about their strengths. At SCALE, our training approach is founded on a 3D model – Design, Develop, and Deploy. Through our partnership with KDEM, we aim to equip Karnataka’s youth for global opportunities and help industries find job-ready talent statewide.” SCALE’s training model includes an industry-aligned curriculum derived from current industry trends, comprehensive sector-specific training in technical skills, digital services, communication, and soft skills, followed by placement support to ensure immediate employment, thereby connecting academia with industry. By integrating colleges and businesses within the same ecosystem at the new Bidadi campus, SCALE enhances education, consulting, and real-world industry engagement.
KDEM will facilitate the program’s implementation, collaborating with educational institutions and industry stakeholders to ensure community involvement and alignment of supply and demand. Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, CEO of KDEM, remarked, “Our vision at KDEM is to democratize digital opportunities throughout Karnataka. This partnership with SCALE is designed to create global pathways for students in tier-2 cities such as Belagavi, Mangaluru, Tumakuru, and Shivamogga. This initiative illustrates that Karnataka’s next generation of digital leaders will emerge from regions beyond Bangalore.” This initiative also revitalizes Sona’s historic contribution to India’s global workforce, as Sona Towers in Bengaluru was the site of India’s first GCC in 1983.
With SCALE, Sona aims to recapture that pioneering spirit by decentralizing opportunities to various regional areas across Karnataka.