KSITIL set to float tender for space park project this week

T'puram: The proposed space park project at Technopark Phase IV (Technocity) in Pallipuram has taken a step closer to reality.

The Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure (KSITIL), the project management consultant, is set to float an e-tender to construct two key buildings — the common facility centre and the research and development (R&D) centre — this week. The single-window committee formed by the state govt has also approved the designs of the buildings submitted by the K-Space authorities. The construction is likely to commence within two months after finalising and signing the agreement with the private co-developer.

CEO, Kerala Space Park, G Levin, told TOI that they have received all the approvals related to the project and the tender will be called this week itself. "Once the tender is finalised, we will issue the work order. A concluding meeting related to the project will also be held soon. The project is entering the construction phase," Levin said.

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard)has granted a Rs 241 crore loan for the project. The new facilities will be built on 3.5 acres of the 18.5 acres allotted by the state govt.

Meanwhile, the landscaping and road network development works on the 11.5 acres of land have begun. The current proposal includes two buildings of a total of 2 lakh square feet. The R&D building will have ground plus four floors, and the common facility centre will have ground plus five floors. The R&D facility will feature startup incubators and other research amenities. Currently, the space park office operates from a rented building in Pattom.

The estimated completion time of the project is 34 months. The proposed park aims to attract global startups in the space sector, becoming a major manufacturing hub for space-related technology, research, and development. The park will focus on four verticals — launch vehicle manufacturing, satellites, ground segments (including radar and antennas), and satellite data applications involving satellite communication.

It plans to house a startup incubator, accelerators, and skill-training systems, leveraging Thiruvananthapuram's existing infrastructure, which includes several key space centres. Kerala Space Park also features a ‘fund of funds' provision for startup funding, with potential for venture capital investment. It employs a multi-layered support system, offering critical infrastructure, facilities for data computation and analysis, and mentorship from experienced professionals in the sector.