Kochi, Kerala – July 15, 2025: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced the launch of its Ecosystem Incubation Center (EIC) in Kochi, Kerala, a strategic space designed to accelerate innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration across startups, enterprises, and academia. The Center will serve as a hub for early-stage ventures, skill-building, and co-innovation, positioning Kochi as a rising destination for deep tech.  

The EIC will offer structured support to Kerala’s innovation ecosystem through a range of initiatives that will serve as a launchpad for the next generation of innovators. These include quarterly meetups with IBM Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), hands-on mentorship and guidance for developing proof-of-concepts (PoCs), technical workshops, hackathons and integration with academic curriculum for continuous learning and upskilling.

Kochi is home to IBM's Software Lab which plays a crucial role in building the company’s AI and automation solutions. The Center will build upon the Generative AI Innovation Center already established in the lab and will carry forward the momentum from the co-hosted Gen AI Conclave in 2024.

The Center was inaugurated by Shri P. Rajeeve, Hon'ble Minister for Minister for Law, Industries and Coir, Government of Kerala; Dinesh Nirmal, Senior Vice President, IBM Software; Shri A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish IAS, Principal Secretary, Industries Department, Government of Kerala;  Mir Mohammed Ali, Managing Director, KSIDC, and Vishal Chahal, Vice President, IBM India Software Labs along with other dignitaries from the Govt. of Kerala and Industry.

Inaugurating the center, P. Rajeev, Minister for Law, Industries and Coir, Govt of Kerala, commented, “The Kerala government will explore the possibilities of using artificial intelligence, including GenAI, to simplify the state administration’s day-to-day operations to the benefit of the people. Kerala has a progressive social climate that encourages free thinking and scientific consciousness. So there is great potential for innovation.”

Dinesh Nirmal, Senior Vice President, IBM Software, added, “Kochi is fast emerging as a deep tech hotspot, with the right blend of talent and innovation. With this new IBM Ecosystem Incubation Center, IBM is deepening our commitment to local collaboration, upskilling and innovation with partners. By collaborating with organizations such as Kerala Startup Mission, Infopark, Technopark and Academia, we aim to scale the development of impactful software solutions to solve our clients' hybrid cloud and AI needs."

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.