Intelligent State Kerala

NeST group to scale up operations

The NeST group of companies, in its expansion and diversification programme, is to foray into the semi-conductor design and testing field and has plans to set up a memory chip foundry. Briefing the media in Kochi, the Chairman of the NeST group, Javad Hassan, says that in the initial phase, a Very Large System Integration (VLSI) design centre with a capacity for 200 personnel would be set up in collaboration with a leading Japanese technology company in chip making. The unit is expected to come up in Kochi, and would be operational by January 2006. In the second phase of the project, a 12-inch silicon wafer manufacturing facility from silicon ingots would be set up, which would be supported with a power generation facility and a water desalination plant. According to Hassan, the upcoming chip foundry would position India among the front-runners in technology manufacturing. NeST has identified semi-conductor business as the new avenue for growth in the future, he adds. Hassan points out that the increasing use of mobile phones in India makes it an ideal market for the chips.

In its efforts to double up the production of fibre optics, the NeST Group is poised to create additional 700 employment opportunities. NeST currently has a capacity to produce five lakh fibre optic components a year, which is expected to double by next year. With the doubling of production, NeST would require about 300 technicians for their Kochi unit, while the Bangalore unit would require around 400.

Over 100 Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetam students absorbed by Infosys

122 engineering students of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetam in Kochi were absorbed by Infosys Technologies at a campus recruitment held recently by the IT major. Belonging to various engineering disciplines, these third year students will join the company after the completion of their course in June next year. The campus recruitment by Infosys at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetam is considered as one of the highest in number undertaken by an IT company from a single engineering college in recent times. Companies such as Wipro, TCS, Satyam Computers, L&T Infotech, HCL Technologies and Tata Elxsi are expected to visit the college in the coming months for meeting their manpower requirement. Kerala has a sanctioned intake of about 23,000 students for the 85 engineering colleges every year.

CNAP to expand in Kerala

Cisco Systems is set to expand its Cisco Networking Academy Programme (CNAP) in Kerala by adding five more institutions under its ambit. According to Regional Manager, Cisco Systems (India), Lokesh Mehra, Cisco has an understanding with three institutions for implementing the programme. By the year end CNAP programme would be available at IIITMK in Technopark, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Rajagiri College of Engineering and Technology and two other engineering colleges in Kerala, he adds. The Cisco Networking Academy Programme is a comprehensive e-learning programme that provides students with the Internet technology skills essential in a global economy. The Networking Academy Programme delivers Web-based content, online assessment, student performance tracking, hands-on labs, instructor training and support, and preparation for industry standard certifications. Launched in October 1997 with 64 educational institutions in seven states, the Networking Academy has spread to more than 150 countries. Since its inception, over 1.6 million students have enrolled at over 10,000 academies located in high schools, technical schools, colleges, universities and community-based organisations.

Overwhelming interest for Akshaya Entrepreneurship

With the Kerala Government giving a green signal to roll out Project Akshaya into seven more districts, KSITM, the nodal agency implementing the project, has decided to set up 1,321 Akshaya centres in these districts. The seven districts are Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargode. Over 8,000 applications have been received for setting up Akshaya centres. As much as 78 percent of the applicants are from rural areas. The processing and short-listing of these applications are expected to be completed shortly.

Each of the Akshaya centres, run by private individuals, would initially embark on an e-literacy campaign for about 1,000 to 1,500 families. Once the e-literacy campaign has been completed, these centres would be positioned as service delivery points.

CMMI Level 3 for Gemini Software Solutions

Gemini Software Solutions, a company based at Technopark in Trivandrum, has been assessed at Level 3 of the Capability Maturity Model by the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at the Carnegie Mellon University, USA. The company is promoted by the Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group, one of the largest private organisations in the Middle East region with operations spanning Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman. Gemini Software Solutions is involved in the area of Delphi-based solutions. Besides the development of software, the company also undertakes assignments in IT consultancy, systems integration and other IT services.

US Technology International, Technopark’s largest tenant

The California-based US Technology International (earlier known as US Software) has become the largest tenant in Technopark. The company had earlier signed an agreement for one more floor in the 'Bhavani' block, thereby acquiring three floors in Technopark's flagship building. US Technology International, a P-CMM level 5 and SEI-CMMi Level 5 company, currently employs 1,600 software professionals and is in the process of setting up their software development centre in 36 acres of land within the Technopark campus.

Government of Qatar keen to partner Technopark

A high-level delegation from Qatar headed by H.E. Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, Minister of State for foreign Affairs and the H.E. Yousef Hassan Al Sai, Ambassador visited Technopark. P.H. Kurian, Secretary, IT, and senior officials of Technopark welcomed the guests and made presentations on the infrastructure and support facilities provided by Technopark. The delegation also visited Gemini Software (Kanoo group), IBS Software and Services, and NeST.

The delegation expressed its keenness in closely working with the companies in Technopark. The delegation also evinced interest in being a partner to Technopark in its future expansion as well as in the setting up of an international convention centre in Trivandrum.