State’s first med-tech hub to begin allotment in July

T'puram: Kerala's first dedicated medical devices park is set to become a major hub for the med-tech industry. Located at the Life Science Park in Thonnakkal, Thiruvananthapuram, MedSpark is a joint initiative of the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST).The park is expected to begin allotting space to major medical device companies starting this July, with full-scale operations slated to commence in Jan 2026, when construction is scheduled for completion.According to Dr Praveen KS, CEO of Life Science Park, several reputed players in the medical devices sector have shown strong interest in the project."Discussions with prominent companies are already under way, although officials have not disclosed names as negotiations are still in progress. The MedSpark project will be a game-changer for the medical device industry in Kerala," Dr Praveen said. "This is the first such park in the state and it will host major medical device manufacturers and incubators. The state has a strong ecosystem in this field, and this initiative will take it to the next level," he added.Construction of the park includes two five-storey blocks and one single-storey facility. While the initial two blocks were completed by the original contractor, RDS Projects Ltd, work stalled after the firm exited the project. The remaining construction is now being handled by the Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society, with all structural work expected to finish by Jan 2026. Interior works will follow, with tenders already floated.The foundation stone for MedSpark was laid in Sept 2020, but delays pushed back the timeline. The project's total cost is estimated at Rs 256 crore, with Rs 156 crore from the state govt and Rs 100 crore from the Centre. Central funds are primarily being used to set up advanced testing labs and related infrastructure.Envisioned as an integrated ecosystem for the medical devices sector, MedSpark will offer facilities for R&D, testing and evaluation, manufacturing support, innovation, and skill development. Key components include a medical device testing and evaluation centre, a shared R&D hub, a knowledge centre, and units for clinical trials, regulatory assistance, and training.Once operational, MedSpark is projected to generate around 1,200 direct jobs and an additional 4,000–5,000 indirect jobs through support services and allied industries. Kerala's existing medical device sector already sees an annual turnover of over Rs 750 crore, with many companies leveraging SCTIMST-developed technologies.