Thiruvananthapuram : The newly launched India AI Centre of Excellence (CAIK) in Thiruvananthapuram is attracting interest from AI startups across the country. Of the 56 applications received for its second batch, 24 are from outside Kerala.




The applications, accounting for nearly 43% of the total, have come from startup hubs such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Gurgaon and Noida, among other cities. The response, within weeks of the Centre’s launch, points to Thiruvananthapuram’s potential to emerge as a destination for AI startups.




Launched on Sept 30 by industries, IT and AI minister P K Kunhalikutty with its first batch of 15 startups, CAIK is part of the Union govt’s India AI Mission , aimed at strengthening domestic AI capabilities. It operates from Technopark Phase IV at Pallipuram, with Digital University Kerala (DUK) as its implementing agency and Innovation Incubator Advisory Pvt Ltd as its industry partner.




The centre aims to help startups develop and test AI technologies by connecting them with govt departments, research institutions, datasets, computing facilities, investors and potential customers. Startups developing Indian-language AI tools, for instance, could benefit from regional language resources and academic collaborations.




DUK vice-chancellor Saji Gopinath said the response had exceeded expectations, with applications coming from 22 states.




“The reason is the unique academic and business ecosystem that Keralam, particularly Thiruvananthapuram, offers,” he said. The city’s talent pool and strengths in deep technology, space research and biotechnology could help startups develop and expand their businesses, he added.




Unlike conventional incubators that mainly provide workspace and mentoring, CAIK seeks to give startups opportunities to test their products in real-world settings and connect with potential users.




“Founders need more than GPU access or incubation space. We are connecting them with investors, customers, government and industry partners, datasets and opportunities for real-world deployment,” said CAIK CEO M S Shiv Shankar . The focus, he said, is on developing original AI technologies rather than applications built around existing AI tools.




The first cohort includes Audio Realities, which develops speech-processing and audio AI technologies, and Keynos , which works on AI-powered financial automation. Another startup, Open Healthcare AI, has expanded its operations to Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand.




Bushair AP, cofounder of Keynos, said experienced entrepreneurs needed strategic guidance, rapid market testing and strong business networks rather than conventional incubation alone.




He said CAIK’s intensive, zero-equity model, under which startups do not surrender an ownership stake, aims to help build globally competitive AI businesses from India.