Kerala has launched an IndiaAI Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence in Thiruvananthapuram to support applied AI, startup development and collaboration between academia, industry and government agencies. The centre was launched on Wednesday with support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Industries, IT and AI minister P K Kunhalikutty said artificial intelligence would bring major changes to Kerala’s society and influence the way people live and work. Speaking at the launch, he said AI could help improve quality of life and create new opportunities for the state across different sectors.
“AI is going to have a great impact on our society. It can bring significant changes to the way we live and work,” Kunhalikutty said, according to a report by the Times of India.
The minister said Kerala had frequently adopted new technologies to address challenges and had not allowed itself to fall behind in technological advancement. He said the state government was committed to promoting the use of AI and applying the technology to support further progress.
Kunhalikutty also said a new AI initiative had been discussed at a cabinet meeting held on Wednesday and had received wide acceptance in the cabinet. The details of the initiative were not specified in the report.
The state government will work with Digital University Kerala (DUK) to strengthen Kerala’s AI ecosystem, the minister said. The newly launched centre is intended to provide a platform for developing practical AI applications and encouraging collaboration among academic institutions, startups, companies and government bodies.
Following the launch, selection letters were handed over to 15 startups incubated under the initiative. The programme is designed to support startups working on AI-based solutions and promote innovation and the adoption of AI technologies in Kerala.
The centre’s focus on applied AI places it within a wider institutional effort to connect research and technology development with practical uses. The source report did not specify the sectors that will be prioritised, the centre’s funding allocation, its implementation timeline or the individual solutions being developed by the selected startups.
For Thiruvananthapuram, the initiative adds a new institutional layer to the city’s technology and innovation ecosystem. Its stated design brings together universities, startups, industry and government agencies, although the roles and responsibilities of each participating institution have not yet been detailed publicly in the supplied information.
The launch comes as Kerala’s government seeks to expand the use of artificial intelligence beyond research and into different sectors. The next steps will depend on how the centre structures its collaboration with Digital University Kerala, supports the 15 selected startups and converts AI research into applications for public and industry use. The state government’s cabinet-backed AI initiative is expected to provide further details on that direction.