Union Cabinet approves National Centre of Excellence for animation and gaming

The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) in Mumbai. This center, tentatively named the Indian Institute for Immersive Creators (IIIC), is expected to be a game changer in the AVGC-XR sector, promoting innovation and creating job opportunities.

The government has decided to set up the National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) to boost India's creative industry and highlight its cultural heritage using new technologies like virtual reality. The center, similar to top institutes like IITs and IIMs, will focus on education, research, and teamwork to help the animation and gaming industry grow quickly.

Aiming for global leadership in AVGC-XR

The NCoE is designed to be a premier institution with state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared that the center will function as a Section 8 company under the Companies Act, 2013, aiming to attract foreign investments while also enhancing India's soft power.

The institution will offer specialised training in various immersive technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), 3D modeling, and animation.

The AVGC sector in India has already shown great potential, as seen in films like RRR, Baahubali, The Lion King, and Avatar. With the establishment of the NCoE, the government aims to boost this growth even further, estimating that the center will create around 5 lakh jobs in the AVGC sector.

Focus on education, innovation, and cultural heritage

One of the key objectives of the NCoE is to provide world-class education and training that meets the demands of the global market. Students will be offered hands-on learning through industry-driven courses, ensuring that graduates are job-ready and skilled in the latest immersive technologies.

Internships, mentorships, and career development pathways will also be part of the curriculum, giving students the practical experience needed to succeed in the industry.

The center will focus on developing intellectual property that showcases India's rich cultural and historical heritage. This will help India stand out in the international AVGC market while also catering to domestic audiences.

Collaboration for growth and innovation

The National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) will work to create a strong and innovative environment by encouraging partnerships between the central and state governments, universities, and industry experts.

By involving specialists from different fields like computer science, engineering, design, and art, the center aims to spark new ideas and major advancements in the fields of animation, gaming, and immersive technologies (like virtual reality and augmented reality). This teamwork will support research and help India become a global leader in these technologies.

In addition to this, the center will focus on creating content that showcases India's cultural and creative heritage. This will not only help India stand out in the international market but also attract foreign investments. By doing so, the NCoE will boost India’s global influence and create many job opportunities for the next generation of creative professionals.

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