THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Kerala hosted panel discussions on deep tech, biotechnology, and e-governance on Thursday at the India Pavilion of the 55th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
These discussions brought to focus Kerala’s significant contributions to India’s initiatives in deep-tech innovation, particularly in healthcare, space technology, and artificial intelligence.
Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan addressed a session focused on establishing Kerala as a hub for deep tech. She emphasised that Kerala’s strategic global partnerships and innovative orientation have laid a strong foundation for advancements in the deep-tech sector.
“The state is dedicated to formulating innovative policies for sustainable growth and attracting investments,” she stated. “By participating in the WEF, Kerala has been able to showcase its potential in deep tech innovation, gain global recognition, and foster collaboration.”
Sai Prasad, Executive Director of Bharat Biotech, commended the state’s commitment to research-based innovation and noted that using innovative technology to tackle challenges reflects its visionary mindset.
Riseberg Ventures Founding Partner Ankit Anand, Summit Capital General Partner Iris Duan, and Technosurge Industries Director Keshav Daga also participated in the discussion moderated by Dr Sabine Kapasi, Global Strategy Lead, UNDAC.
During a panel discussion on e-governance, Kerala’s Additional Chief Secretary (Finance), Dr A. Jayathilak, emphasised the importance of implementing security measures against misinformation, especially as administrative and service delivery processes are now entirely digital.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Secretary Amit Singh, DPIIT Joint Secretary Dr Gurneet Tej and Kalyan Kumar, Chief Product Officer of HCL Software, which hosted this panel discussion, also participated.
“Kerala has set a strong example by becoming the first digital state in the country,” Dr Jayathilak noted. He highlighted that Kerala became the first e-literate state in India through the government’s proactive initiatives. The digital transformation in the state began with the launch of the Akshaya Project and the IT@School program in 2002.
Dr Jayathilak mentioned that the Kerala Public Relations Department has established a fact-check portal that the public can use to verify the accuracy of misleading information or false messages about the government and its administration circulating on social media. This initiative is part of the ‘Stay Safe Online’ campaign.
“The draft will be shared with the public and relevant stakeholders to gather feedback on the government’s policy formulation and service delivery processes,” he explained. “The suggestions received will be published on the government portal, along with information on how these recommendations have been integrated into the new policy.”
Kerala established its first State Data Centre in 2005 to provide e-governance services, followed by a second in 2011. Dr Jayathilak noted that these centres offer industry-leading cloud infrastructure and enhanced core connectivity through initiatives such as the Kerala State Wide Area Network (KSWAN), the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), and the National Knowledge Network (NKN).
APM Mohammed Hanish, Principal Secretary of the Industries Department, spoke at a panel discussion titled ‘Kerala’s Biotech and Pharma Revolution: Shaping Global Healthcare Innovation.’ He emphasised that Kerala is emerging as a global biotech and pharmaceutical sector hub. He also mentioned that the state is set to lead in transforming healthcare solutions by collaborating with industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators.
Ankit Anand, Founding Partner of Riseberg Ventures in Zurich, moderated the discussion. Other participants included Dr Sabine Kapasi, Global Strategy Lead at UNDAC; Santosh Dixit, Head of Health Tech at Persistent Group; Keshav Daga, Director of Technosurge Industries; and Marta Stepian, Vice President of Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Sleepis in Zurich.
