Joining the IT Joining the IT Revolution: Revolution:

Case of Technopark, Case of Technopark, TrivandrumTrivandrum

A presentation by

G. Vijaya RaghavanAsian School of Business

Founder-CEO, Technopark

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

............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

............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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Thank YouThank You