Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 3 (IANS): The Kerala government plans to set up IT innovation zones in the state where emphasis would be given on hardware, Industries and IT minister P.K. Kunhalikutty said Monday.

"The state government is now working on setting up innovation zones in the state and here the emphasis would be given to the hardware industry because this is a sector where the country is relying heavily on imports. Innumerable jobs will be created for technical professionals in this segment," the minister told reporters here.

"Innumerable jobs will be created for technical professionals in this segment," he said.

The 285 IT companies in the state employ 40,521 employees in locations such as Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram. "Now we have decided to give the nod for small IT parks which will now come up in the private sector," he added.

The IT industry in Kerala has clocked a turnover over $1 billion.

The biggest achievement in recent times that Kerala IT can take pride is the hugely successful model of the Kochi-based Start-up Village the first PPP model incubator in the country where around 100 new applications every month for setting up a unit are being received.

"We have been the facilitator to this project and this would continue," said Kunhalikutty.

He also said that Infosys, TCS and a few others are all going to expand at various locations in the state.