Joining the IT Revolution: Case of Technopark, Trivandrum

1. Joining the IT Revolution: Case of Technopark, Trivandrum A presentation by G. Vijaya Raghavan Asian School of Business Founder-CEO, Technopark

2. Technopark - Today • 86 companies • 10,500 direct high-paying jobs • Average salary of Rs. 300,000 per annum per person • Estimated indirect employment of 30,000 • Generating economic activity valued at close to Rs.10,000 million • Highest generation of economic activity and employment per unit of area in the State

3. ............Technopark - Today • Rs. 1250 million investment by Govt. so far • Nearly Rs. 6000 million by private companies • Probably the highest private response ever to Govt. investment in Kerala • The highest concentration of FDI in Kerala

4. ............Technopark - Today • Played a pioneering role in heralding the IT industry in Kerala. • Continues to be home to the best of IT companies in Kerala. • Even space in buildings on the drawing board sold out.

5. Kerala – 1990 • Kerala, almost a pariah as an investment destination • Zero Bandwidth • Poor quality power • Just a couple of software companies. State- sponsored industrial estates in bad shape • Software industry in its infancy in India • Technology Parks yet to sprout in the country

6. Technopark, the Beginnings • A Govt. initiative into un-chartered territory • Rules of Govt. – rigid, unyielding, unforgiving • Government Systems at variance with a unique initiative like a Technology Park warranting flexible, innovative and highly proactive support

7. Operational philosophy • IT, globally the most standardised industry, required global standards and scale. • Technopark-Trivandrum, a totally unknown entity, to be successful, had to be a product-offering of exquisite precision and comprehensiveness • Creating such a ‘product’, required the flexibility to take quick, professional decisions unencumbered by ancient systems and procedures.

8. Enabling pre-conditions • Every decision taken to be professional, supported by unerring justification, unchallengeable facts. • Decision taken had to be transparent and fool-proof. • Fail-safe systems and processes to ensure that every rupee budgeted was spent and spent wisely. • Professionals chosen for Technopark had to be competent and committed

9. The Management Structure • A not-for-profit Society • Governing Council with the Minister-Industries as Chair, Senior Secretaries to Govt and Professionals as Members • A Project Implementation Board • CEO

10. The Technopark Team • A lean and mean group of hand-picked professionals - 12 • Contract appointment • Growth and continuity based on performance • All non-core activities outsourced, a first for any entity in Kerala.

11. Learning from the Best, Globally • Comprehensive understanding of the best-in-class practices followed by the best-in-class Technology Parks around the world • Identified the most appropriate infrastructure and support components • Contextualising the above to suit the Kerala environment

12. Powers and Responsibilities • All powers of Local and State Govt. except electrical safety with the CEO • All Govt. procedures on tendering had to be followed • Audit by Independent Auditors and the Accountant General

13. The Two Lessons • Even politicians and bureaucrats, despite the perceptions to the contrary, can be made to see the larger picture • Anywhere, everywhere, it’s the team with the passion, professional integrity, courage of conviction and competence that makes all the difference

14. Thank You