Kerala is emerging as a hub of innovation and excellence in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), as evidenced by the recent achievements of its startups at the global stage. One such startup is International Virtual Assistance Pvt Ltd (IVA), a deep-tech company based in Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram, that has bagged the prestigious ‘Best Research Company in AI’ title at the 4th edition of the Global Artificial Intelligence Summit and Awards (GAISA) 2024.
IVA, which is nurtured within the Kerala Startup Mission, received the recognition from the All India Council for Robotics and Automation (AICRA) for successfully collaborating on a defence-related project for developing a virtual strain gauge sensor for aero-engine testing. The project involved creating a ‘digital twin’ of a physical object or system that can simulate real situations or outcomes and help in better decision making.
“We are proud to represent Kerala on the global stage and will continue our pursuit of excellence in the dynamic field of Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning,” said Suresh Kumar, Chairman, IVA.
IVA is not the only Kerala startup that has made a mark at the GAISA 2024, which was held in New Delhi last month. Genrobotics, another startup acclaimed for leveraging technology for social change, has been adjudged among top three Artificial Intelligence (AI) startups of India at the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit 2023 organised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in New Delhi.
Genrobotics is known for its innovative use of AI in addressing societal challenges, particularly in sanitation and labor-intensive sectors. Its notable achievement includes developing Bandicoot, a robotic scavenger that can clean manholes and sewers without human intervention.
The continuous collaborative initiatives put forth by IVA with institutions across the nation, including IITs and NITs, has also placed them as a trailblazer in technological advancements. The R&D works of IVA on defence and security address challenges in industries similar to aerospace, by developing cost-effective and resource-efficient Digital Twins.
IVA has also diversified its technological reach into other domains, such as agriculture and industrial security. Through AI-enabled farming in collaboration with the Kerala Agriculture University, IVA is supporting farmers by ensuring efficient resource supply to plants in a controlled environment. IVA has also developed an advanced video analytics platform, with features such as accident detection and prediction of accident blackspots.
The achievements of these Kerala startups underscore the state’s potential and prowess in the field of AI, which is expected to transform various sectors and create new opportunities in the future. Kerala Startup Mission, the nodal agency of the state government for promoting entrepreneurship, has been playing a key role in supporting and mentoring these startups and providing them with various facilities and incentives.
With its vision to create a vibrant and inclusive startup ecosystem in Kerala, Kerala Startup Mission is fostering a culture of innovation and excellence among the young entrepreneurs and enabling them to scale up their ventures and compete at the global