First-phase operations of the Digital Science Park inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

Kerala's highly skilled people resources, as well as the attention devoted to establishing a knowledge-based economy and high-quality research institutes, have made the state the most ideal location for IT-based knowledge enterprises, according to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. On Tuesday, Mr. Vijayan inaugurated the first-phase operations of the Digital Science Park on the Technopark Phase 4 (Technocity) campus in Mangalapuram, near here, expressing confidence that the park would catalyse the State's transformation into a knowledge-based economy through translational research, engineering reforms in higher education, and the establishment of centres of excellence.

The country's first digital science park, located near the Digital University Kerala (DUK), is intended to foster collaboration and knowledge transfer among companies, universities, and research institutions by providing access to cutting-edge technology such as semiconductor cleanrooms, advanced materials and VLSI design, high-end computing, and robotics laboratories. 

The Chief Minister emphasised Kerala's credentials as a pioneer in IT and related fields, highlighting the state's extraordinary history of technical growth since it became the first state to build an IT park 33 years ago. Two years ago, it also established the country's first digital university. The government set aside 13.93 acres of land on the Technocity campus for the park, coupled with a 200 crore investment from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). The project is projected to cost Rs 1,515 crore in total. The Digital Science Park's two-year plan calls for the construction of two buildings totaling 2.5 lakh square feet. 

During the opening ceremony, the park announced an agreement with electronic chip design company ARM to develop an electronic design facility. The Chief Minister also handed out occupancy certificates to seven businesses. These companies include Australia-based QL Space, NIQS Technology Ltd., which has been developing non-invasive glucose monitoring technologies, Spain-based SEIDOR Opentrends, system design technology solution provider Entuple Technologies, VLSI and embedded system design service provider TOSIL Systems, and Sensorprise Solutions, which has been developing sensor systems for environmental monitoring and food chain monitoring.

G.R. Anil, Minister of Food and Civil Supplies, presided over the event. D. Suresh Kumar, DUK Vice Chancellor Saji Gopinath, Board of Governors member C. Mohan, Digital Science Park advisory committee chairman Madhavan Nambiar, and former senior vice president of Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd. Kamesh Gupta were also present.