Established in 1999, BEC STEP has been the well-deserved recipient of the BEST TBI from DST for the year 2007. With a focus on incubating startups in the areas of Food Processing, Textile technology (both handloom and power loom) and low-cost building Technology, BEC STEP has incubated 29 firms in less than nine years since its inception.

BEC STEP is associated with Basaveshwar Engineering College (BEC), which was founded in 1963 offering bachelor degrees in Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering affiliated to Karnataka University, Dharwad. Presently BEC offers the degree programs in ten disciplines and five post graduate programs. The College is a Government aided institution affiliated to Visveswaraiah Technological University, Belgaum in Karnataka and approved by AICTE, New Delhi. The campus is well laid on an elevated stretch of land of over 100 hectares on the outskirts of the city and is adjoining to New Bagalkot town.

Possessing three specialized pilot plants for food processing and one Textile Pilot Plant, BEC STEP offers its incubates access to resources not available  to most fledgling businesses. Such unparalleled access has contributed considerably to the success of the incubatee companies of BEC STEP.

Unemployed youths of different districts of north Karnataka, members of Sti Shakti & SHG groups have been trained under STST for generation of self employment or to get jobs, making BEC STEP popular in the region. One National Seminar and one regional seminar were also conducted on ‘Opportunities for the establishment of food processing industries in rural areas’ by the STEP.