THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will kick off the Young Innovators Programme (YIP), marking the formal launch of the ‘big bang’ Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) at Kanakakunnu Palace on March 24.
The omnibus K-DISC, the strategic think-tank and advisory constituted by the State Government, aims to evolve path-breaking strategic plans that reflect directions in technology, product and pro-cess innovations, social shaping of technology and creating a healthy and conducive ecosystem for fostering innovations in the State confronted with second-generation issues.
YIP, part of K-DISC's societal advancement component, aims to empower the youth to innovate products, services or models to meet emerging requirements and unarticulated needs for existing market needs of society more effectively through a specially designed challenge.
K-DISC has a road map for massive skilling and training a rich talent pool of Kerala’s youth in the emerging blockchain technology domain.
This and other programmes are set to roll out in a structured pattern within weeks of the inauguration.
Another priority is to position the State as a medical hub for the development and manufacturing of cutting edge medical technologies and healthcare solutions and finding innovative cost- effective solutions for identified special clinical needs relevant to the State and the country.
Cycling tourism has developed in western countries, China and other places, but not tapped by the State. Its favourable geographic and climatic conditions and its beautiful shore line provide ample incentives for cyclists. Government’s approved Coastal Highway Project provides a good opportunity to establish a cycling track along the same right of way.
The state also must address decades of infrastructure deficit and make rapid strides in cutting edge areas of knowledge revolution and tourism without infringing upon its fragile environment and impacting upon its biodiversity.
In this context, innovation emerges not only as an engine of prosperity, competitiveness and ingenious mechanism of real life problem solving, but as the act of creating extraordinarily new values in unusually original ways.
At the inauguration, Dr K.M. Abraham, the council chairman, will give an overview.
Dr Shashi Tharoor, MP, will deliver the keynote address. There are special addresses by Mr V.K. Ramachandran, vice-chairman of Planning Board, and Dr Anil Gupta, chairman, National Innovation Foundation.
K-DISC board members and their topics: Mr Shibulal S, chairman, Axilor Ventures- Strengthening the entrepreneurship ecosystems, Mr Shyam Srinivasan, CEO and MD, Federal Bank-Investment opportunities in Kerala, Dr Ajayan Pulickel, professor, Rice University- Nanosciences and advanced materials: potential and challenges and Dr. K. M. Abraham, Principal, E-KEM Sciences- Innovation and development: routes to sustainability.
Technical sessions are devoted to different aspects of blockchain technology and other key trajectories of K-DISC.
