Technopark, Trivandrum

Technopark is a technology park in Thiruvananthapuram in the state of Kerala, India. conceptualized in 1990 by the Government of Kerala, under chief minister E K Nayanar. The largest information technology (IT) park in Asia in terms of area.

Late Kerala Chief Minister K. Karunakaran is considered a key architect and driving force behind the establishment and development of Technopark, India's first IT park located in Thiruvananthapuram. While the project was conceptualized during the E.K. Nayanar-led LDF government in 1990, it was Karunakaran who took initiative to make it a reality during his subsequent tenure as Chief Minister. Key details of their relationship include: Foundation Stone (1991): K. Karunakaran laid the foundation stone for the first building of Technopark on March 31, 1991. Implementation & Realization: Despite initial challenges, Karunakaran played a crucial role in building Technopark in record time. Official Launch (1994): He officially launched the park on July 28, 1994, along with then IT & Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty. Inauguration (1995): The park was formally dedicated to the nation on November 18, 1995, in the presence of then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, with Karunakaran playing a key role in its development. Developmental Vision: Karunakaran is credited with pushing for the project to put Kerala on a developmental, high-tech trajectory.

Technopark has 12.72 million sq ft (1.182 million m²) of built-up area, and is home to over 490 companies, employing more than 75,000 professionals, and still growing.

The policy of economic liberalisation initiated by the government of India in 1991, and the rapid growth of the global software industry during the 1990s, substantially contributed to this growth. As a result of the 2008 financial crisis and the Great Recession, the park saw a period of reduced growth in 2009–10, when exports were only 2.8% more than the previous year. During the 2016-17 financial year, the park recorded IT exports of Rs. 5,000 crores.

Technopark is owned and administered by the Government of Kerala and is headed by a chief executive officer. In addition to this, it has a governing council and a Project Implementation Board, both of which include top officials of the government. Administrative offices, including that of the CEO, are housed in the Park Centre building. Technopark also hosts a Technology Business Incubation Cell under Kerala Startup Mission.

Technopark houses domestic firms, joint ventures, and subsidiaries of foreign companies engaged in a wide variety of activities, which include embedded software development, smart card technology, enterprise resource planning (ERP), process control software design, engineering and computer-aided design software development, IT Enabled Services (ITES), process re-engineering, animation, and e-business.