The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) has launched startup cells at its Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi offices to provide assistance to young incubates and start ups in the state. These cells will serve as help desks for the young innovative entrepreneurs.
Building on the state's Student Entrepreneurship Policy, 2012, state government and KSIDC have announced a slew of initiatives to make Kerala a sought-after destination among the young entrepreneurs.
The state's Young Entrepreneurship Development Programme is a unique initiative launched two years ago received an overwhelming response from the state's younger generation, and is part of the key initiatives in the Mission 676 set by the state.
Aurna Sundarajan, managing director of KSIDC, said the corporation is all set to organise the Young Entrepreneurs Summit (YES), Kerala's flagship event to establish the state as a vibrant entrepreneurial state, to be held on September 12 (also Kerala Entrepreneurship Day) this year. Chief minister Oommen Chandy has unveiled the logo of YES recently.
Sundarajan also said the KSIDC has hired and trained a team of young professionals with entrepreneurial orientation to provide hand holding assistance to startups.
To attract high-quality innovation and entrepreneurship, KSIDC is in the process of establishing a Knowledge Network for linking centres of excellence like Sri ChitraThirunal Institute of Science & Technology, Tropical Botanical Gardens & Research Institute among others.
Kerala University for Fisheries & Oceanic Studies and Amritha Institute of Science & Technology.
KSIDC's initiatives such as the Life Sciences Park had already generated considerable interest amongst the tech-qualified professionals natives of the state.
It was also working closely with bodies like CII and TiE to promote and nurture entrepreneurs in the non-IT sectors like agri-technology, food processing, electronics and green industries.
The services of the cell can be accessed through dedicated telephone numbers (0471-2724812, 97450 17777 in Thiruvananthapuram and 0484-2321443, 97450 18888 in Kochi) and e-mail is startupcell@ksidcmail.org.Rs
