Thiruvananthapuram: India’s first Space Systems Park will be set up by the Kerala Government.
The facility will be a state-of-the-art project aimed at attracting global start-ups working in space sector and also develop it as a major manufacturing hub for space-related technology, research and development. Electronics and IT Department of Kerala government will implement the project.
The CEO of Kerala Government owned ICT Academy Santhosh Kurup has been appointed as special officer of the Space Park project, and co-developer of the project KSITIL will collect premium from the companies taking up space in the complex.
According to a media report, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Knowledge Centre and Space Museum will be developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) at the venue. It is said to be a befitting memorial to the former president and top space scientist. It will also be part of the overall infrastructure of the Space Park. This will be an added attraction to the park and the entire investment will be made by the VSSC.
20.01 acres of land will be transferred as lease to the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Ltd (KSITIL- the agency mandated to develop IT infrastructure in the State) at Knowledge City within Technocity for the project. Of this, 16.07 acres, now having SEZ status, will be denotified by KSITIL.
The complex will serve as primarily a manufacturing hub for companies using GIS and other data systems and have start-up incubator, accelerators, including Airbus Bizlab, skill training systems and production units.
KSITIL will hand over required land to ISRO to set up Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Knowledge Centre and Space Museum, through a lease agreement. A government order (GO) has already been issued in this regard. The government had earlier allotted 1.75 acres at Kowdiar in the city to VSSC, to develop the Centre and Space Museum. Later, VSSC informed the government of the restrictions in taking up world class constructions on the land imposed by the Kerala Art and Heritage Commission, and requested an alternative site for the project.
M Sivasankar, state Secretary, Electronics and IT was quoted as saying, “With the Space Park materialising, Kerala capital will become a key hub of space technology in the country… The Space Park is being set up to leverage on the opportunities provided by ‘Space 2.0 and it will generate lots of high tech jobs.”