Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 24 (UNI) India’s IndiaAI Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has signed two key Memoranda of Understanding with the Kerala government to establish 30 Data and Artificial Intelligence labs across the state, aimed at expanding AI education and workforce skilling, officials said on Friday.
Under the agreements, seven Data and AI labs will be set up in polytechnic institutes and 23 in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), significantly increasing hands-on training infrastructure for students and trainees in Kerala.
The memoranda of understanding were signed at the Kerala Regional AI Impact Conference 2026, jointly hosted by IndiaAI and the state’s Electronics and Information Technology Department in Kovalam.
The conference is part of a series of regional consultations ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled to be held in New Delhi.
Held under the theme “From Innovation to Impact: Realising the Potential of AI Across Sectors”, the conference brought together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, startups and academic institutions to deliberate on the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in governance, industry and social development.
Addressing the inaugural session, Kerala Legislative Assembly Speaker A N Shamseer said Artificial Intelligence is already influencing classrooms, healthcare, agriculture and governance. He emphasised that Kerala’s focus must be on responsible adoption of AI, ensuring that technology strengthens democracy, protects human dignity and serves citizens through transparency, accountability and robust safeguards, in line with the state’s commitment to social justice and inclusion.
Kavita Bhatia, Scientist ‘G’ at MeitY and Chief Operating Officer of the IndiaAI Mission, said the conference would serve as a critical stepping stone towards the India AI Impact Summit, which is expected to be the first global AI Impact Summit hosted in the Global South.
She said the IndiaAI Mission aims to democratise access to AI through shared compute facilities, high-quality datasets, indigenous foundation models, strong safety frameworks and large-scale skilling initiatives, positioning India as a global leader in responsible and inclusive AI.
The conference sessions highlighted the importance of close collaboration between government, industry, academia and startups to translate AI innovation into real-world impact. Additional MoUs aimed at strengthening Kerala’s AI and digital innovation ecosystem were also signed, reinforcing the state’s ambition to emerge as a leading hub for responsible AI adoption.
Addressing the valedictory session, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the conference marked an important milestone in Kerala’s transition towards a knowledge-driven, innovation-led and people-centric development model.
He said the state’s focus remains on moving from innovation to tangible social, economic and governance outcomes as it prepares for the Global AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
