THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major attempt to create traction for industry by developing a Kerala team of cutting edge professionals, a team from the state will be heading to Silicon Valley , Boston and Seattle in the US to interact with potential investors and technologists during August first week. It forms part of the state government move to create a digital network. It is also planned to create 25,000 professionals in blockchain technology, in addition to similar skilling in future technologies at the six Centres of Excellence to come up at Technocity, the emerging technology hub.

“The six centres of excellence will be in Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Electric mobility, Internet of things (IOT), Data analytics and big data, cybersecurity and space technology. The idea is to create adequate talent base in the industry 4.0 with cutting edge and future technologies,” Kerala Start-up Mission CEO Saji Gopinath told TOI.

IBM and Intel have signed MoU with KSUM to support skilling in blockchain technology based on international quality standards. Three levels of training for students will be ensured including training through Additional Skill Acquisition Program (ASAP) from colleges, then training in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Academy, Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management-Kerala (IIITM-K), and then attend NASSCOM competency exam for further training as full stack professionals for the industry, he said.

The state team to visit the US will be led by High Power IT Committee (HPIC) chairman SD Shibulal with members Infosys former CEO Kris Gopalakrishnan , IBS Software executive chairman VK Mathews, IT secretary M Sivasankar and IT Parks CEO Hrishikesh R Nair. The visit will for a series of three sessions for global connect to be held in Boston, Seattle and Silicon Valley on Aug 6, 7 and 8.

“The visit by a small team from the State to Boston, Seattle and Silicon Valley will be to interact with around 60 potential investors and technology experts at each session and to bring in the Kerala connection in technology circles, which is aimed at bringing in more investment and technology support to the state. It would also help create a traction for industry by developing a Kerala team of cutting edge professionals,” HPIC member and IBS Software executive chairman VK Mathews told TOI.

Further, he said it was after the recent conclaves in the state that it was decided to create a knowledge hub with professionals in future technologies including blockchain, AI, IoT, data analytics, electric mobility, among others. Nissan had announced the launch of a digital hub in the state which will ensure the electric mobility technology or e-vehicles, he said.

“Such digital technologies have the potential to redefine the conscience of human beings by ensuring transparency, speed and end corruption. Blockchain with crypto currency will play a major role in redefining the role of banks with less intermediaries and transaction costs,” he said,

Technopark CEO Hrishikesh R Nair told TOI that the Chief Minister’s Fellows in IT will coordinate and execute the program in each city in the US as part of the global connect for expanding the digital achievers network through a good vibe for Kerala in the big network in the US and to consider Kerala as the choice for potential investment. Already, Nissan has begun the recruitment process and in the next two months it will start functioning at the space in Technopark phase III, then after the construction of the building at Technocity, it will start functioning from there. He said, the US visit is also aimed at creating an ecosystem for knowledge sharing and to represent the state in the global industrial ecosystem.

The officials said that the state move to create 25,000 blockchain professionals and to ensure a conducive ecosystem for the latest technologies led by Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) chairman Dr K M Abraham is a great step.

