Digital Science Park to come up in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 5 (KNN) Following the cabinet’s approval, the government has accorded in-principle sanction for setting up a digital science park adjacent to Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology, as per a report in the Times Of India.

The proposed digital science park is expected to be built at the cost of Rs 1,515 crore and the project will be completed in the period of three years. It will begin its initial operations from Technopark.

In the order issued sanctioning the project, the government has noted that the funding from Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) is limited to Rs 200 crore and the remaining fund for the project is to be generated from other sources, including industry partners.

In the initial phase, space measuring 10,000 sq ft in the Kabani building will be rented from Technopark on the rate card of Technopark, as per the government order.

As a third-generation science park, it will be designed with an innovation philosophy of cluster-based interactive innovation and will be developed on a network overlay of communications built over a triple helix, involving universities, industry, and the government.

The chief executive officer of Technopark has been directed to take steps to transfer the 13.65 acres on the Technocity campus, Pallippuram, to Digital University Kerala, on a lease basis for a period of 30 years at the rate applicable to the IT/ITeS sector, for setting up the science park.

The vice-chancellor of Digital University Kerala has submitted a proposal for the establishment of the park. The proposed park will initially have two buildings with a total of 1,50,000 sq ft The first building with 1,00,000 sq ft on five floors will house centres of excellence, including research labs and a digital incubator, while the second building of 50,000 sq ft will house administrative as well as the digital experience centre.

As per the proposal submitted by the Digital University Kerala, the total project outlay has been estimated at Rs 1,515 crore, out of which Rs 1,175 crore was proposed to be sourced from KIIFB and the remaining fund has to be generated from other sources, including industry partners.

The Digital University Kerala will be the implementing partner and Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management-Kerala (IIITM-K) will be the SPV for executing the project.  (KNN Bureau)