Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram: From First to Future

 

Technopark, the leading-edge IT park in Thiruvananthapuram was established in July 1990 by the Government of Kerala, under the visionary leadership of then Chief Minister, E K Nayanar. Shri Nayanar, who visited the Apple facility at Silicon Valley in the United States in 1989, was inspired to create a similar facility in Kerala. Hence, the foundation stone of Technopark was laid on 31 March 1990. 

 

Not just India's first but also one of Asia's largest and greenest technology parks in terms of developed area, Technopark hosts 490 companies, as of the year 2024. The tech park is spread over 768.63 acres and has a total built-up space of 12.72 m sq. ft. 

 

This autonomous organization is fully owned by the Government of Kerala and is headed by a Chief Executive Officer. It also has a Governing Council and a Executive Council, both of which include top officials of the government.

 

Despite the global financial crisis of 2007-2010 and the Covid-19 pandemic, Technopark has steadily displayed great resilience and growth. In FY 2022-23, the IT park in Trivandrum recorded IT exports of Rs 11,630 crore. 

 

In 2006, Technopark launched a Technology Business Incubation Cell, which was later renamed the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), a platform developed by the Government of Kerala to promote entrepreneurship in the state. KSUM acts as a launchpad for entrepreneurs to set up their business ventures and provides them comprehensive support all through the startup cycle with government schemes for funding, mentoring, and networking opportunities. 

 

As a progressive IT park in Thiruvananthapuram, Technopark takes ownership of being more than a technology innovation hub; it also accepts accountability to nurture a campus that’s green and sustainable and respects the environment and the local community. Technopark has been awarded the CMMI Level 4, ISO 9001:2015, ISO14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 certifications for its quality management, environmental management, and occupational health and safety management systems. 

 

Technopark also has various initiatives to promote social responsibility, such as Prathidhwani – a socio-cultural organization of employees, Natana – cultural organization by employees, e-Waste Management Programme – an inhouse solid waste management plant, and Technopark Employees Co-operative Hospital Society Limited (TECHSL), among others.

 

Notably, all phases of Technopark including its satellite centre at Kollam overlooking the Ashtamudi Lake, are actively engaged in developmental efforts, offering readily available IT built-up spaces and encumbrance-free land for leasing, making it an inviting destination for businesses seeking to thrive in the heart of Kerala's technological landscape.