In a landmark move, the Union Cabinet approved the establishment of National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality (AVGC-XR) industries. The centre’s push towards advancing the creators economy to ensure economic growth and employment opportunity has been welcomed by all industry stakeholders.
The NCoE will enhance India’s soft power globally and attract foreign investment by positioning India as a content hub for providing state-of-the-art content.
Here’s what the industry stakeholders have to say about the centre’s move:
Ashish Kulkarni | FICCI AVGC-XR Forum chairman and Punnaryug Artvision founder
“The final approval of the NCoE for AVGC-XR is great news. We at FICCI had initiated this with a white paper in 2005. Ever since this was in the pipeline. The NCoE for AVGC-XR will be a platform for the growth of Indian IP creation and setting the world class incubation as well as standards for the industry. The NCoE for AVGC-XR will become a single point destination for all the growth engines for animation, VFX, gaming, comics and extended reality. This will positively position India on the world map for design in India and Create in India for the world.”
Biren Ghose | CII National Committee for AVGC-XR chairman and Technicolor Group APAC managing director
“The AVGC NCoE is intended to serve as a central cluster for collaboration across education, incubation and the discovery of new knowledge as man:machine intelligence in image creation transforms rapidly. The AVGC -XR industry is moving into an era of cognitive automation which will transform and disrupt legacy methods of content creation and consumption. The NCoE is intended to be that collaborative platform to foster and harness learning and propensity outcomes that AI, ML and new tech will bring to future storytelling. It signals the Indian government’s recognition that an industry-led ‘thought leadership’ hub will act as a beacon signalling what India can do across IP creation and global services. The NCoE shall look at how AVGC content is going to leverage that “data play” that takes creativity out of the physical world to capture heads and hearts in ways that make it more valuable. It shall be a facility that all of industry and plug into to add to and take away from it like a co-located facility.
As the interim CEO representing CII with my two counterparts I see my job as being of service to connect all the intended pieces together. I congratulate the cabinet, the MoIB and all my colleagues in industry who have dreamed of this outcome. We shall make India for the world more than a catchphrase.”
Bejoy Arputharaj | Phantom FX founder
“I view the Indian government’s decision to establish the NCoE in Mumbai as a game-changing move for the AVGC-XR sector. This strategic initiative not only strengthens our global position but also opens vast opportunities for innovation and skill development. With the global market poised at $800 billion, India’s potential to capture a significant $40 billion share is within reach. The NCoE will foster collaboration between startups and industry experts, driving creativity and making India a key content hub, empowering us to shape the future of global digital content creation.”
Munjal Shroff | Graphiti Multimedia COO & co-founder
“This is a landmark development for the AVGC-XR industry. The NCoE will not only boost the skilling efforts of the industry but also be a lighthouse institution for a host of policy initiatives like startups and project incubation.”
Roby John | SuperGaming CEO and co-founder
“The NCoE’s role as an incubation hub will be a game-changer for startups, nurturing innovation and supporting early-stage companies that could very well define the next generation of gaming experiences. Just as IITs and NITs were established to advance engineering and technology, and IIMs for management, we believe the NCoE for AVGC-XR will similarly transform the gaming industry in India.
As gaming continues to blur the lines between entertainment and technology, we can expect to see a rise in investments, both domestic and foreign, as the global industry looks to India as a content hub. The focus on cutting-edge technology, coupled with the support of the government and industry leaders, is bound to attract significant FDI in the gaming sector, further boosting India’s position on the global gaming map.”
Animesh Agarwal | 8Bit Creatives CEO and co-founder
“The establishment of the NCoE for AVGC-XR is absolutely commendable. This will serve as a platform for young enthusiasts across the country by providing them access to the latest technology, valuable mentorship and guidance to be able to upskill and enter this industry. The NCoE will mark the next step in supporting and nurturing the development of made-in-India game titles for the global audience by harnessing the rich history and cultural tapestry of India. The emergence of these new titles will enable Indian content creators to work and grow alongside and make an indelible mark in the global gaming ecosystem.
The NCoE will provide specialised training and learning programs designed to equip both beginners and professionals with the latest skills in advanced AVGC-XR technologies.”
Vishal Parekh | CyberPowerPC India chief operating officer
“The NCoE will provide a platform for individuals to harness the rapidly advancing technology to upskill their craft further. The government’s support to this industry is crucial as it has the potential to engage the youth and anchor India’s name on the global AVGC-XR map. Initiatives like these further strengthen our belief that the entertainment industry in India is poised for exponential growth.”
Akshat Rathee | Nodwin Gaming co-founder and managing director
“The establishment of the NCoE for AVGC-XR marks a milestone for India’s entertainment industry. The NCoE will act as a beacon for both amateurs and professionals of the industry to learn and sharpen their craft. The amalgamation of multiple sectors like animation, VFX, gaming, comics and more will be extremely beneficial for the industry as all of these sectors synergise exceptionally well to create amazing experiences for everyone.
The NCoE will further strengthen the roots of this industry and help in creating skilled professionals by nurturing creativity through cutting edge technologies and expert mentorship. This will provide an impetus to the country’s AVGC – XR ecosystem and help solidify India as a powerhouse of this industry, globally.”
Harsho Mohan Chattoraj | Graphic novelist and AVGC-XR Bengal member
“It looks like NCoE will help nurture the growth of the AVGC-XR industry. I am eagerly hoping that it also helps the comics industry (apart from the animation and gaming ones) emerge, with more houses and studios forming and thereby giving hope to students who wish to know and learn the craft.”
Anand Bhanushali | philmCGI co-founder and managing director
“The establishment of NCoE in Maharashtra highlights the growing recognition of the industry’s potential and the hard work of everyone involved, from industry professionals to government and private sector stakeholders. The centre will likely play a pivotal role in nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and helping India further establish itself as a global hub for AVGC and XR technologies. It could open up new opportunities, training programs and cutting-edge research in the sector.”
Alok Sharma | showrunner/director/filmmaker and Small Town Boys Studios founder
“The Government of India’s approval of the National Centre of Excellence for AVGC-XR is a monumental boost for the industry, unlocking vast potential for innovation, employment, and storytelling on an epic scale. Thanks to the tireless efforts of stalwarts like Ashish Kulkarni and many others, this long-awaited milestone is set to revolutionise a sector that has been overlooked for decades, creating new opportunities for creators and visionaries across the country. Congratulations to all of us, and a special shout out to team AnimationXpress for being the voice of the industry.”
Parth Chadha | Stan CEO & co-founder
“This new action plan signifies a great turning point for the Indian gaming and entertainment industry. Through encouraging innovation and skill development, it creates fresh opportunities for creators and entrepreneurs and expands India’s position as a leader in the AVGC-XR industry addressing the common challenges faced by new gamers and creators, who often struggle to monetize their content early on and find like-minded individuals for support.”
Charuvi Agrawal | Charuvi Design Labs (CDL) founder
“This is an extremely positive step by the government for the AVGC sector and related industries. If executed swiftly and effectively, it could foster a high-performing talent ecosystem, much like the IITs, NIDs and IIMs have for their fields. It’s particularly encouraging to see this initiative based in Mumbai, a city that has long been a cornerstone of the industry.”
