Sona Valliappa Group Unveils SCALE

BENGALURU: In a landmark move that promises to redefine India’s talent landscape, the 105-year-old Sona Valliappa Group has officially launched the Sona Centre for Advanced Learning & Entrepreneurship (SCALE). The announcement, marked by a high-profile logo unveiling at the historic Sona Towers, signals the birth of India’s first truly integrated campus where colleges and corporations will coexist to nurture "industry-ready" talent for the global stage.

The choice of venue was deeply symbolic. Sona Towers is the landmark site that hosted India’s first Global Capability Centre (GCC), set up by Texas Instruments in the 1980s. By launching SCALE here, the Sona Valliappa Group is bridging its century-long legacy in business and education with the future of global technology and innovation.

Bridging the Gap: The Vision Behind SCALE

Founded by Thyagu Valliappa, a fourth-generation entrepreneur and Vice Chairman of the Sona Valliappa Group, SCALE addresses the persistent "catch-22" between industry requirements and academic output. "If you learn something, we want others to benefit from it," said Valliappa during the launch. He emphasized that SCALE is an initiative "by the industry, for the industry," specifically designed to adapt to the rapid pace of AI, generative technologies, and digital transformation.

The initiative is built on the group's extensive experience—104 years in industry and 68 years in academics. Unlike traditional models, SCALE will bring companies directly into the campus environment, allowing for a syllabus that evolves as fast as the market demands.

A Powerhouse of Collaboration

The launch is supported by an impressive network of over 50 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and more than 15 Centres of Excellence established in collaboration with global brands, industry partners, and government agencies. A pivotal partnership with the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) aims to support the upskilling of over 3,000 young engineers across the state, focusing on high-demand sectors like advanced manufacturing, deep-tech, and GCC operations.

Scaling New Heights: The Bidadi Campus

The SCALE ecosystem will soon expand into a large-scale integrated campus located in Bidadi, just an hour away from Mysore. This facility is designed to accommodate 2,500 students and will feature state-of-the-art shared technology labs and industry-aligned courses. Thyagu Valliappa outlined an ambitious target of creating 15,000 to 20,000 jobs annually, positioning SCALE as a critical engine for employment and economic growth in Karnataka.

The Symbolism of Growth

During the event, Mr. Thyagu Valliappa shared the philosophy behind the SCALE logo. Crafted to resemble the deity Ganesha, the logo incorporates 26 pyramids. These pyramids represent a step-by-step ascent to the top, while the overall structure mimics the flight of a paper plane or rocket—symbolizing the group’s mission to help students "scale up and fly".