The Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) has opened its incubation centre here and launched Future Spark, a platform to help school students learn basics of future technologies.
The projects were formally declared open by Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekaran here on Thursday, marking the finale of the four-day conclave of the KSUM that began in Kozhikode on February 5.
Future Spark, a first-of-its-kind initiative involving school students in the State, is a platform for the students to ideate, innovate, build, and learn future technologies.
A series of workshops and hands-on sessions in virtual reality, augmented reality, robotics, and other technologies will be organised for students from Class V to the Plus 2. The KSUM will the projects in collaboration with the district panchayat. The project will also be implemented in other districts, with an initial target involving 10,000 students.
Addressing the function at the municipal town hall here, Mr. Chandrasekharan said the Startup Incubation Centre and Future Spark will help nurture talent in the district.
Priority to north
“Unlike in the past, the State has chosen to start its new projects from this northernmost district and then eventually take them to the south. This will put an end to the general perception that the district is being sidelined in the government’s activities,†he said.
Addressing the function, Saji Gopinath, CEO, KSUM, said the agency had plans to create a culture of innovation at the school and college levels.
“We want to introduce new technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) to the new generation. We start from Kasaragod and then will extend it across the State,†Dr. Gopinath said.
The programme was addressed by N.A. Nellikunnu, MLA, district panchayat president A.G.C. Basheer, and District Collector K. Jeevan Babu, among others.
Robin Tomy, Head, TCS Innovation Hub, presented a workshop as part of the event to showcase some of the innovative changes in technology.
The session was attended by around 200 students.
