The central government made an announcement about a new institute named the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai. The unique institute will deal with Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR). It will be similar to the renowned IITs and IIMs and will be a high-ranking national center for learning and innovation in creative technology.
The institute will be constructed by major tech firms such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, Adobe, Star India, and NVIDIA in collaboration. All the above-mentioned companies entered into agreements with the Indian government during the WAVE Summit at Jio World Centre in Mumbai.
The idea is to establish IICT as a global hub for education and research in innovative media such as animation, gaming, and XR. The government wants to create a robust ecosystem for the media and entertainment industry in India, similar to what it had created for the IT industry.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sanctioned Rs 400 crore for the institute. The Maharashtra government has given 10 acres of land in Mumbai Film City for its main campus. However, the institute will begin functioning in a government office in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) temporarily.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw claimed that this effort would make India a world media and entertainment power. He further mentioned that IICT would follow the best practices of IITs and IIMs in imparting top-notch training and education.
Industry leaders such as Ashish Kulkarni, Biren Ghosh, Manvendra Shukul, Munjal Shroff, and many more are part of the governing board of the institute. The executive committee is headed by Dr. Vishwas Deoskar (CEO), Ninad Raikar (COO), and Shweta Verma (Marketing Lead).
During the event, IICT representatives and technology partners discussed their plans and executed Letters of Intent to begin collaboration on this new and exciting initiative.
The institute shall have the most advanced technology infrastructure including virtual production studios, gaming labs, sound studios, animation gear, and smart classrooms. The institute's second campus shall be constructed at the 10-acre Goregaon-based Film City campus in the future.
The government also intends to establish regional centers across various regions of the country so that more professionals and students can avail themselves of the advantages. IICT will be engaged in research, training, innovation, incubation, and policy-making, creating huge opportunities for young entrepreneurs and makers in the creative tech space.
