In a significant move to transform Kerala into a deep-tech powerhouse, the IndiaAI Mission and the Kerala Government signed two major Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on January 24, 2026. This partnership will see the establishment of 30 Data and Artificial Intelligence labs across the state, aimed at providing high-level technical training and workforce skilling to over 150,000 students.
The initiative, announced during the Kerala Regional AI Impact Conference in Kovalam, specifically targets vocational and technical education. Out of the 30 labs, 23 will be set up in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and 7 in Polytechnic Institutes, ensuring that AI education is accessible beyond traditional engineering colleges. These labs will focus on practical applications like data science, analytics, and indigenous foundation models, positioning Kerala’s youth for roles in the global digital economy.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, speaking at the conference’s valedictory session, highlighted that these labs are part of a broader “people-centric” development model. The state aims to integrate AI into routine governance, ranging from healthcare diagnostics to sustainable agriculture and predictive public service delivery. This regional rollout serves as a prelude to the Global AI Impact Summit scheduled for New Delhi in February 2026, marking Kerala’s ambition to become South Asia’s leading hub for responsible and inclusive AI adoption.
