KOCHI: The Kerala government will sponsor the visit of 10 student entrepreneurs to the Silicon Valley this year as part of the SV Square program of Startup Village, said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

"When the five students briefed the cabinet after their return from the Silicon Valley last year, we saw the transformational power of this initiative. The students who went were not the same when they returned as their new found confidence and energy was astounding," said Chandy in his address at the second anniversary celebrations of Startup Village here.

"They firmly believe in their ability to change Kerala's economy and industrial landscape in the future and the government is backing this belief and their confidence by funding the visit of 10 participants, or more, if required, this year," he added.

The Startup Village to Silicon Valley (SV Square) programme which was launched to give young innovators a first-hand experience of the world' best entrepreneurial ecosystem has been among the most successful initiatives in the two years of the Kochi-based business incubator.

Principal Secretary Industries and IT, P.H. Kurian said Kerala's IT policy envisages creating 3,000 startups by 2020.

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