Perspective

Kerala has made sustained public investments in education, health, and social welfare over several decades. These investments are reflected in the State’s Human Development Index that is comparable to that of developed economies. Building on this social foundation, the State has aligned its IT policy to harness its educated and socially empowered workforce.

Information technology was identified early as a strategic sector for development in Kerala. The establishment of Technopark created an institutional framework for organised growth in the IT sector and enabled the entry of national and international firms, expanding employment opportunities for Kerala’s educated workforce. State policy has consistently sought to align infrastructure development and skill formation with changes in technology and market demand. The Government of Kerala has taken steps to strengthen capabilities in advanced technologies and specialised research by supporting dedicated research centres and institutions such as Digital University Kerala, with an emphasis on higher-order skills and emerging areas of technology.

Advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, robotics, and related research has enabled the automation of cognitive tasks and continuous data generation, and have a profound impact on industry structure and the nature of future job opportunities. These technologies are reshaping production processes, service delivery, and organisational models across sectors. Effective use of these technologies depends on a coordinated policy framework and institutional capacity.

National initiatives such as the Artificial Intelligence Mission and the Semiconductor Mission reflect the strategic importance of advanced technologies for long-term growth and social development. In this context, the conference will examine how Kerala’s existing initiatives can be strengthened to enable the absorption and application of these technologies across Kerala’s productive sectors. The discussion will address the future trajectory of the startup ecosystem, the evolving role of IT parks in attracting Global Capability Centres, and the use of AI as a general-purpose technology, with a focus on economic development, accessibility, and social outcomes.