Kerala CM Announces INR 350 Cr Tech Hub for Healthcare & Other Sectors

This includes a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) cluster to assist entrepreneurs working in AI, machine learning, animation, gaming, and visual effects To boost this ecosystem, an additional INR 10 Cr has been allocated to the Kerala Startup Mission.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced the establishment of a INR 350 Cr Emerging Technology Hub in Thiruvananthapuram, aimed at leveraging AI primarily in healthcare, along with agriculture, defence, and renewable energy. 

The project, spearheaded by the Kerala Startup Mission, will be set up on a three-acre site in Technocity, the state's technology hub.

Responding to a calling attention motion by IUML legislator Manjalamkuzhi Ali in the Assembly, Vijayan emphasized the hub's role in transforming healthcare delivery through AI-powered solutions.

Kerala Rapidly Adapting Tech Innovations

The state government is also working on a comprehensive AI policy to promote AI-driven software development, database creation, innovation centres, skill development, and support for AI startups.

"In the recent state budget, the government announced key initiatives to support startups in the AI sector," Vijayan said, highlighting that a dedicated deep-tech ecosystem will be developed. 

This includes a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) cluster to assist entrepreneurs working in AI, machine learning, animation, gaming, and visual effects. 

To boost this ecosystem, an additional INR 10 Cr has been allocated to the Kerala Startup Mission.

The government has also allocated INR 1 Cr to organize a national-level hackathon on agentic AI, with INR 20 lakh set aside for each of the top five AI-based healthcare innovations.

The Kerala CM also noted the state's focus on AI-led healthcare advancements. "Our institutions, such as the Digital University and the International Centre for Free and Open Source Solutions (ICFOSS), are conducting advanced research in this field," the CM added.

To commercialize AI research prototypes in healthcare, the Digital Science Park has been established, while the Digital University is working on a responsible AI policy inspired by European AI frameworks. 

Research on Small Language Models (SLM) is also underway in collaboration with California-based NVIDIA.

Recognizing the potential job losses due to AI integration, the government plans to reallocate workers impacted by automation to emerging job sectors and is actively introducing AI and data science courses across universities. Community education programs and workshops on Generative AI for educators have also been launched to bridge the digital divide.

Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News.