Bengaluru, Mar 10: Mr. B.V. Naidu, Chairman, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), has been honoured with the ‘IESA Sarabhai Award 2025–26’, the most prestigious lifetime achievement recognition conferred by the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA). The award, recognising Mr. Naidu‘s contributions spanning over three decades to innovation, skill development, policy formulation, and industry growth, and his instrumental role in building a resilient ESDM ecosystem to firmly establish Brand India on the global stage, was presented at the IESA Vision Summit 2026. The ceremony took place on February 26th, 2026, at The Leela Bharatiya City, Bengaluru, before a distinguished gathering of India’s foremost industry leaders, policymakers, and technology visionaries.
Named in honour of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space programme,’IESA Sarabhai Award’ is among the industry’s highest recognitions, celebrating leaders whose institution-building vision and long-term impact have elevated India’s standing in the global electronics and semiconductor value chain. Conferring this honour upon Mr. B.V. Naidu, is a reflection of a career that has, quite literally, architected the digital destiny of a nation.
A Legacy Built Across Three Decades
Mr. Naidu‘s contributions to India’s technology landscape are not measured in years, they are measured in an entire era of transformation.From establishing India’s first email network and Internet node as a scientist in the Department of Electronics, to driving Karnataka’s technology ambitions today, Mr. Naidu’s career spans the full arc of India’s digital journey, defined at every milestone by historic firsts and lasting national impact.
As Director of the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), he was a principal architect of one of the most remarkable stories in Indian economic history: the rise of Bengaluru as a global technology powerhouse. Under his stewardship, India’s software exports from Bengaluru surged from a modest $8 million with 13 companies in 1991 to an extraordinary $12 billion with over 1,800 enterprises by 2007, a 1,500-fold increase that redefined India’s place in the global economy.
As Chairman of IESA, he led national efforts to advance the ESDM sector and chaired the Task Force that contributed to India’s National Electronics Policy, strengthening the country’s semiconductor and electronics design vision.
Beyond Bengaluru – A Vision for All of India
Where others saw Bengaluru’s dominance as the finish line, Mr. Naidu saw it as the starting point. As Chairman of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), he championed the bold ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ initiative to bring the economic miracle of India’s Silicon Valley to the rest of Karnataka.
The results are concrete and consequential: More than 25 global companies, including IBM and GlowTouch, have established operations in emerging tech clusters. 513 companies (including 105 startups) are primarily engaged in Manufacturing, highlighting Karnataka’s role as a production hub. Nearly 1 in 2 mid-market GCCs in India are in Karnataka employing over 70,000 professionals and growing 1.4x faster than their larger peers. A significant presence of 61 Design houses (with 37 being startups) and 35 GCC/R&D Facilities including Analog Devices, Microchip Technology demonstrates the state’s focus on innovation and intellectual property creation, all contributing towards India’s $1 trillion digital economy vision.
The Institution Builder India Needed
Few leaders in India’s technology history have left their fingerprints on as many critical institutions as Mr. Naidu. He is a founding member of IIIT Bangalore, a founding director of the Karnataka IT Fund (the state’s seed fund), a member of the Karnataka Chief Minister’s IT Task Force, an IC member of KITVEN Fund, and was central to the formation and leadership of the Vision Group, Invest Karnataka, the Karnataka Knowledge Commission, and the Karnataka ICT Group, among others. He also served as Chairman of the India Electronics & Semiconductor Association (IESA), laying critical groundwork for the sector now at the heart of India’s geopolitical and economic ambitions.
His influence on national policy is equally significant. He was instrumental in implementing India’s National Electronics Policy 2011, establishing a framework that continues to guide the country’s electronics manufacturing ambitions to this day.
“This recognition belongs to the countless innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and ecosystem builders who have worked together to shape Karnataka’s technology leadership. Our collective mission has always been to build globally competitive tech clusters, strengthen digital capabilities across the state, and ensure Karnataka remains at the forefront of India’s innovation-led growth. I remain committed to supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs, engineers, and institutions that will define India’s digital future”, said, Mr. B.V. Naidu, Chairman, KDEM.
“Mr. Naidu didn’t just witness India’s digital transformation, he architected it. From strengthening institutional frameworks to fostering deeper industry-government collaboration, his work has helped create a stronger foundation for design-led innovation and manufacturing
growth in the country. His contributions to the ESDM sector and national electronics policy have laid a foundation that generations of innovators will build upon. IESA is proud to have had been associated with Mr. Naidu and is honoured to confer this award upon him, a recognition that is as much a celebration of his legacy as it is an inspiration for the journey ahead.” said, Ashok Chandak, President and CEO, IESA.
“On behalf of the entire KDEM family, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. B.V. Naidu received the IESA Sarabhai Award, a recognition that could not be more deserved. Working alongside him has been one of the greatest privileges of my professional journey. Mr. Naidu does not simply lead, he elevates everyone around him. As a mentor and institution-builder, he has consistently encouraged industry and policymakers to move beyond services-led scale toward design ownership, manufacturing depth, talent scaling, tech cluster developments, and global competitiveness. Every milestone we celebrate at KDEM bears his imprint, his strategic clarity, his unwavering belief in Karnataka’s potential beyond Bengaluru, and his tireless championing of the next generation of technology leaders. This award honours a vision that continues to shape India’s digital future.” said, Mr. Sanjeev Gupta, CEO, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM)
The IESA Sarabhai Award adds to a distinguished can on of recognition for Mr. Naidu. He has previously received the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, the TiE Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award, and most recently, the inaugural STPI Commendation Award at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025, bestowed in recognition of his decades-long leadership in building Karnataka’s global technology prominence. Each honour further reaffirms that Mr. Naidu is among the rarest of leaders, those whose contributions outlast the moment and define the era.
