Digital university set to float tender for science park soon

T'puram: The Digital University Kerala (DUK) technical committee will likely grant final technical sanction to the ambitious Digital Science Park project in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.
This crucial approval, expected to be issued by the committee after its project review meeting, will clear the way for the construction phase to officially begin.According to DUK vice-chancellor Ciza Thomas, the technical sanction is the last remaining step before initiating the tendering process. "Once the sanction is granted, we will float the construction tender—likely within a month," she said. The upcoming facility, initially conceived as a two-building complex, has been scaled down to a single structure due to state budget constraints. The 2 lakh square-foot building is expected to be completed within 12 months.Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Ltd (KSITIL), the project consultant, has completed its preparatory work and submitted the detailed project report (DPR) to DUK. KSITIL will also take part in the technical committee meeting. The Digital Science Park will be developed at
Technopark
Phase IV in Pallipuram under the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) model.The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) has approved Rs 212.87 crore for the first phase. Currently, the park operates from a 15,000 square-foot temporary facility in the Kabani building at Technopark Phase IV, hosting eight technology firms focused on advanced research in artificial intelligence, machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and
robotics
.The permanent five-storey facility will be built on a 13.93-acre site near the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology.
It will include centres of excellence, research labs, and digital incubators. Once completed, it will become India's first third-generation Digital Science Park, envisioned as a hub for cutting-edge research and technological innovation. The total project outlay is estimated at Rs 1,515 crore, with Rs 1,175 crore to be funded by KIIFB.
The remaining amount will be raised through partnerships with industry stakeholders. The state govt has already given in-principle approval and sanctioned Rs 200 crore via KIIFB.PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the project on April 25, 2023. CM Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the interim facility in July 2023. Once fully operational, the park is expected to attract global talent, boost investments, and enhance state's knowledge economy.

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