Biz incubation centres planned in colleges

The Kerala government has lined up measures to set up business incubation centres in all engineering colleges and polytechnics across the state in a bid to encourage entrepreneurship.

Speaking at the inauguration of the second Indian Science and Technology Entrepreneurs' Parks and Business Incubation Association's ISBA 2008 conference at Technopark here on Thursday, chief minister V S Achuthanandan said the move was aimed at bringing in entrepreneurship as a part of Kerala's culture.

Pointing out that the government was committed to seeing the younger generation turn job generators instead of job seekers, the chief minister said the success stories that flow out of the Technopark would be given prominence. The success of Technopark would also be replicated in different parts of the state so that even the common man reaps the benefits of IT.

"In the next five-year period, all of Kerala's 14 districts will house IT parks, which will, in turn, generate at least 200,000 direct employment. This ambitious plan could be accelerated with the help of budding entrepreneurs," Achuthanandan, who also holds the IT portfolio, said.

State industries minister Elamaram Kareem urged the young engineers to take up the challenge of modernising the traditional industry by giving it a technology edge.

"We need to balance the employment opportunities in the state. Opportunities in IT and in the general and traditional industries should go hand in hand. Employment for women needs to be given importance too," he added.

Detailing the theme of the three-day event, ISBA chairman P K B Menon said, "Global leadership through innovation, incubation and entrepreneurship would be the focus point and we are hopeful that this theme will help create a proper framework for the incubation process and institutionalise its working, covering all facets of business activity."