THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the aim of achieving 10 lakh square feet incubation space in the state by 2021, the Kerala Startup Mission (KS-UM) is joining hands with private and government approved players apart from national and international agencies to develop additional incubation space. Government sources said that the plan is to develop at least five lakh square feet incubation space with support of private and government agencies with expertise in the field and incubators of national and international expertise.
Financial assistance will be given upto five years for agencies and the activities will be under close KSUM supervision. KSUM chief executive officer Saji Gopinath said that apart from creating additional incubation space, the fresh initiative will also help startups get global connect and funding. “We hope to generate about 30,000 self employment opportunities with this,” said Mr Gopinath. IT secretary M. Sivasankar issued the order allowing KSUM to tie-up with private players and other government approved incubators.
As per the Kerala Technology Startup Policy, about 10 lakh square feet space has to be created. At present the KSUM has start up space of around three lakh square feet only and it plans to enhance it to five lakh square feet. The aim is to create another five lakh square feet space with the tie up with private players and internationally and nationally recognised incubators. Tie-up will be made with reputed international incubators or accelerators run by centre or state government agencies with two to three years of experience as well as private co-working spaces promoted by non-profit organisations.
