Technopark's engineering lab becomes first in Indian IT park to get NABL accreditation
Synopsis
Technopark's engineering lab in Thiruvananthapuram has become the first such facility inside an Indian IT park to earn NABL accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 — giving the state-owned technology park a certified, in-house testing capability for construction and electrical materials, and opening the facility to nearby developers as well.
Key Takeaways
Technopark's engineering laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram is the first in any Indian IT park to receive NABL accreditation .
The lab is accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 , the international standard for testing and calibration competence.
The Civil Engineering Laboratory tests concrete and construction materials; the Electrical Laboratory tests and repairs LED fixtures , drivers, and components.
The facility will be open to developers and companies operating in and around Technopark, not just for internal use.
Officials say the accreditation will reduce e-waste, cut maintenance costs, and lower dependence on external testing agencies.
The labs were established at Technopark's Phase-I campus last year, with Rahul Thampi heading the Civil Engineering Laboratory.
Technopark's engineering laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram has secured accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), making it the first engineering laboratory housed within an IT park in India to receive this recognition, according to Technopark officials. The milestone, announced on 19 September 2026, marks a significant step in the state-owned technology park's push to strengthen in-house quality control for its infrastructure projects.
The Accreditation and What It Covers
The laboratory has been accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2017, the internationally recognised standard that defines competency requirements for testing and calibration laboratories. This certification gives Technopark a scientifically validated, in-house facility for testing and verifying the quality of construction and electrical materials used across its infrastructure works. The accreditation is expected to reduce dependence on external testing agencies and streamline compliance monitoring.
What the Laboratories Can Do
Technopark had established civil and electrical engineering laboratories at its Phase-I campus last year. The Civil Engineering Laboratory — headed by Rahul Thampi, Assistant Vice-President (Civil) — is equipped to test concrete and other construction materials across multiple parameters in accordance with relevant Indian Standard specifications. The Electrical Laboratory, meanwhile, can test and repair LED fixtures, drivers, and associated components. Its repair capabilities are also expected to help reduce e-waste and cut maintenance costs. Notably, the facility also houses vintage engineering machinery as a display of the evolution of testing technology.
What Officials Said
Technopark CEO Sandeep Kumar said the accreditation would help ensure quality and sustainability in infrastructure development and enable the engineering department to extend technical support to co-developers. Chief Technical Officer Madhavan Praveen described the accreditation process as 'a challenging process that required sustained efforts and coordination by the engineering team and support staff.'
Broader Access and Impact
Beyond Technopark's own projects, the accredited facility will be open to developers and companies operating in and around the technology park for testing materials and verifying compliance with their construction specifications. Officials said the accreditation would strengthen quality control at every stage of infrastructure projects — from material selection and performance verification to compliance monitoring — enabling engineers to make decisions based on standardised, verifiable test results.
The development positions Technopark as a benchmark for infrastructure governance among IT parks nationally, with the NABL tag lending institutional credibility to test outcomes that previously depended on third-party laboratories.
Point of View
But it signals a maturing approach to infrastructure governance in India's technology enclaves — where quality-control lapses have historically been an afterthought. Technopark opening the facility to external developers is the smarter play: it converts a compliance cost centre into a potential revenue and influence hub. The real test will be turnaround time and pricing — if the lab can undercut private testing agencies while meeting timelines, it could set a replicable model. Other IT parks watching this should note that the barrier was not technology but sustained institutional will, as the CTO's remarks on the 'challenging process' quietly acknowledge.
NationPress
19 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NABL accreditation and why does it matter for Technopark?
NABL accreditation, granted by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories, certifies that a laboratory meets the international standard ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for testing and calibration competence. For Technopark, it means the lab's test results carry institutional credibility, reducing the need to outsource quality verification to external agencies.
Is this the first engineering lab in an IT park to get NABL accreditation in India?
Yes, according to Technopark officials, this is the first engineering laboratory located within an IT park anywhere in India to receive NABL accreditation. The recognition was announced on 19 September 2026.
What can Technopark's accredited laboratories test?
The Civil Engineering Laboratory tests concrete and other construction materials against Indian Standard specifications. The Electrical Laboratory tests and repairs LED fixtures, drivers, and related components. Both labs are designed to provide standardised test results within specified timelines.
Who can use Technopark's NABL-accredited laboratory?
While established primarily to support Technopark's own infrastructure projects, the facility will also be available to developers and companies operating in and around Technopark for material testing and construction compliance verification.
How is this accreditation expected to help reduce e-waste?
The Electrical Laboratory's repair facilities for LED fixtures, drivers, and other components allow faulty parts to be serviced rather than discarded, which officials say will help reduce e-waste and lower maintenance costs for Technopark and potentially for other users of the facility.
