Multinational technology conglomerate Cisco has tied up with the Government of Kerala to nurture innovation in the Internet of Things (IoT) domain and launch a networking academy in the State.
Cisco is collaborating with the Nasscom Foundation to set up an incubator at the Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Kerala (IIITM-K) for startups to develop IoT-based products. Named thingQbator, the facility is envisaged as an IoT laboratory and maker space that provides technology infrastructure for innovators to develop their ideas.
“thingQbator is a project under Cisco’s corporate social responsibility programme,” explains Harish Krishnan, managing director, public affairs and strategic engagements, India and SAARC.
First in the country
Talking to The Hindu on the sidelines of Huddle Kerala, a startup conclave which began here on Friday, he said the first thingQbator in the country was being set up in Kerala.
“The facility will provide college students with the equipment and materials to turn an idea into a workable IoT product. We expect this to be a platform for cross pollination of ideas between students, entrepreneurs, and our technical resources.”
The incubator will also be equipped with videocoferencing facilities for students to interact with their counterparts elsewhere and technical experts at Cisco. Mr. Krishnan said the project was expected to take off in three months’ time. Cisco is also planning to launch thingQbators in four other colleges across the country.
Nasscom Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding with the government on Friday to formalise the project. CEO, Nasscom Foundation, Shrikant Sinha exchanged the documents with Chief Secretary Paul Antony during the inaugural ceremony of Huddle Kerala.
The Cisco Networking Academy will be set up in association with the ICT Academy of Kerala under a programme aimed at meeting the growing demand for people with the skills and knowledge required to design, build, and maintain computer networks.
Through this programme, schools, colleges, universities, and other non-profit educational institutions are provided with the possibility of integrating a curriculum in computer networking developed by Cisco as part of the company’s educational offering.
Mr. Harish Krishnan exchanged documents with Secretary, IT, M. Sivasankar to formalise the MoU for setting up the academy.
