Ker Cabinet approves setting up of three science parks in state

Thiruvananthapuram | The Kerala government has decided to set up three science parks in the state in order to strengthen economic growth by investing in science, research, and innovation.

The Kerala cabinet had on March 23 given approval for the establishment of these parks, which will be an amalgamation of academic institutions, high-tech companies, entrepreneurs, and start-ups.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on Saturday, in a Facebook post announced the setting up of the three science parks at a cost of Rs 600 crore.

He said that it was being done to transform the state into a knowledge economy.

"Science parks will form part of the 'knowledge economy' infrastructure by creating an ecosystem of academia, partners, industry professionals, and other stakeholders," Professor KP Sudheer, Ex-officio Principal Secretary of S&T Department and Vice President of Kerala Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KCSTE), told PTI.

Officials said that the science parks will offer a number of shared resources, such as world-class research laboratories, intellectual resources, talent and capacity building, incubation and innovation centres, telecommunication hubs, transportation and other physical infrastructure.

With the establishment of these science parks, Kerala is planning to attract world-class talents to join together for new technology and product development.

"The Science Parks will foster advanced research in the emerging fields of science and engineering and will spread over to biotechnology, virology, pharmaceuticals, new Materials Development, Structural Biology, Healthcare Technologies, Sensors Development, additive technologies, Green Mobility Initiatives, Artificial Intelligence and so on," Sudheer said.

The parks would also aid in the commercialisation of where government, universities and private companies could collaborate. This would also be beneficial to the academic centres with the windows opened for stronger collaboration with the world of industry and commerce.

"Science Parks can also liaison with premier research Institutions in the country as well as abroad to accelerate S&T development and boost the socio-economic development of Kerala," Sudheer added.

Earlier, Finance Minister K N Balagopal had announced in his budget that four science parks will be opened in Kerala and had allocated Rs.1,000 crore towards the establishment of the parks. Each of the parks, with a minimum space of 10 lakh square feet, scheduled to come up near Kannur, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram international airports, will have a cost outlay of Rs. 200 crore.

The Kannur University, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), and the University of Kerala will be the principal associate universities of the park.

A nine-member consultative group has been set up with Prof. K P Sudheer as its chairman. KCSTE will be the special-purpose vehicle for setting up the parks.