MeitY-IndiaAI Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence Opens in Thiruvananthapuram with First Cohort of 15 AI Startups

Key facts

• The MeitY IndiaAI Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam (CAIK), along with its first cohort of 15 AI startups, was launched on September 30, 2026, by Kerala Minister for Industries, IT and AI P. K. Kunhalikutty.
• CAIK was established under the IndiaAI Mission of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Kerala Department of Electronics and Information Technology, with Digital University Kerala as implementing agency and Innovation Incubator Advisory Pvt. Ltd. as industry partner.
• The first cohort of AI startups began operations at the CAIK facility in Kabini, Technopark Phase IV.
• The inaugural cohort includes Plenti, Lejit AI, VitalView AI, Keynos, Court Click, Audio Realities, Metanoa Labs Pvt. Ltd., Katidhan, Doculu, Glianomics, Tranzmeo, Pixolish, Resfeber, VibraSync and Open Healthcare Network, spanning healthcare and MedTech, climate and AgriTech, legal technology, enterprise and document AI, Edge AI and other applied-AI areas.
• The Centre will train 1,600 students, faculty, professionals and researchers through accredited certification programmes in Agentic AI, Machine Learning and Applied AI, award 40 Young Fellowships, and conduct 16 hackathons and innovation sprints over four years.
• CAIK will develop 40 responsible AI prototype solutions, including 20 industry-specific applications in healthcare, e-governance disaster management and governance credential management, and train 200 senior executives in responsible AI policy and governance over four years.
• Letters of Intent for collaborative AI initiatives were signed between CAIK and the Dr Azad Moopan AI & Robotics Center of Excellence at SAFI Institute of Advanced Studies as well as the Cochin Cancer Research Institute.