Context:
The first campus of the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) was recently on the premises of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) in Mumbai. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who oversees the portfolios of Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and IT, inaugurated the campus and emphasized the vision of establishing IICTs across the country on the lines of IITs and IIMs.
About India’s AVGC-XR Sector:
- The creation of IICT is closely aligned with the growing importance of the AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality) sector. Globally, this market was valued at over $366 billion in 2021, and India — though currently contributing less than 1% — is poised for exponential growth.
- Industry estimates suggest that India’s AVGC-XR market could reach $26 billion by 2030, driven by a surge in demand for immersive content, interactive media, and digital storytelling.
- Karnataka, already known as India’s IT powerhouse, is emerging as a national leader in the AVGC-XR sector, with policies and infrastructure designed to attract talent and investment.
Key Growth Drivers in India’s AVGC-XR Ecosystem:
1. Exploding OTT User Base: With approximately 547 million OTT users in 2024 and a penetration rate of 38.4%, India is among the fastest-growing digital content consumption markets in the world.
2. Surge in Smartphone and Internet Access: By 2025, India is expected to have over 900 million internet users, with the rural population forming a significant share — opening new markets for vernacular and locally relevant content.
3. Cross-Sector Applications: AVGC-XR technologies are no longer confined to entertainment. They are now increasingly deployed in EdTech, medical simulation, architectural design, virtual training, and heritage preservation, expanding their relevance across sectors.
4. Advent of Emerging Technologies: AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) investments are growing year-on-year, both from the private sector and public R&D initiatives.
5. Enabling Infrastructure: Rapid 5G roll-out, rising R&D investments, and supportive state-level AVGC-XR policies are laying a strong foundation for a globally competitive industry.
About IICT:
The IICT aims to bridge the gap between academic training and industry requirements. In its first year, it plans to train around 300 students and trainers through short-term and long-term advanced courses in VFX, animation, gaming, post-production, and XR technologies.
· To ensure industry-aligned skill development, IICT has partnered with global giants such as Google, Meta, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, and WPP, who are co-developing curriculum and providing technology support.
· International collaborations are also underway, with a formal partnership already signed with York University and discussions ongoing with four other universities.
Conclusion:
The launch of the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies is a strategic intervention in India’s push toward becoming a global hub for digital content and creative technologies. With the AVGC-XR sector poised for a multi-billion-dollar expansion, and with government, industry, and academia aligning their efforts, India has the opportunity to become not just a market, but a creator and exporter of immersive and cutting-edge content for the world.
