Kochi to get first Super Fab Lab in July

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first ever Super Fab Lab - which aims at providing access to the tools and knowledge to innovate and invent, using digital fabrication -  will come up in Kochi in July.

The Kerala Startup Mission is gearing up to ink an agreement with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to set up the Super Fab Lab, which is expected to increase the hardware capabilities of the state and thereby facilitating entrepreneurs to prototype their ideas using advanced digital fabrication rapidly.

The Kerala Startup Mission had set up two state-of-the-art fabrication facilities, here and Kochi, in 2014.

Kerala Startup Mission  chief executive officer Saji Gopinath said an official agreement would be signed soon.

He said that the fab lab concept is fast catching up in other states and with the facility, Kerala will be able to set them up.

"Currently, we can give training for faculties, start-up entrepreneurs and students," he told DC.

"The super fab lab will give advanced exposure to the entrepreneurs as the current labs allow usage of wood and plastic for their prototyping. The new facility will allow them to work with metals, composite plastics, and carbon fibre to develop advanced prototypes."

Kerala Startup Mission  has decided to work with Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Centre for Bits & Atoms for setting up this facility.

The project is estimated to cost approximately Rs 7 crore. "The super fab lab will kick off its operation from the next academic year.

There are around 100 hardware startup companies in Kochi alone which could make use of this facility," said Gopinath.