Government approves NCoE for animation, visual effects, games, comics and augmented reality

The Indian government recently approved the establishment of a National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for Animation, Visual Effects, Games, Comics and Augmented Reality (AVGC-XR). This initiative aims to position India as a global content creation hub and attract foreign investment.

The NCoE will be set up in Mumbai, Maharashtra and will operate as a Section 8 Company under the Companies Act, 2013. It will offer specialist training programmes, support R&D and startups in the AVGC-XR sector.

This step is expected to significantly strengthen the media and entertainment industry, creating numerous jobs and enhancing India’s soft power in the world.

The AVGC-XR sector today plays an irreplaceable role in the entire media and entertainment space, including film production, Over The Top (OTT) platforms, gaming, advertising, and several other areas, including healthcare, education, and other social sectors, thus encompassing the overall structure of the country’s growth story. With rapidly evolving technology and increasing internet penetration across the country, coupled with one of the cheapest data rates, the use of AVGC-XR across the world is set to grow at an exponential rate.

Ashwini Vaishnav, Minister of Information and Broadcastinghe said in a social media post,Films like ‘RRR’, ‘Baahubali’, ‘The Lion King’ and ‘Avatar’ have shown the immense potential of animation and immersive technology!”

“Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector in India is poised for explosive growth, with huge employment and innovation opportunities“, said the minister.

The NCoE will also support research and development efforts and bring together experts from diverse fields, such as computer science, engineering, design and art, who can lead to breakthroughs in AVGC-XR.

The centre will also have a strong focus on creating Indian intellectual property for both domestic and international markets, and will work to create content that builds on India’s rich historical and cultural heritage.

In addition, the NCoE will act as incubation center providing resources to support startups and early stage companies in the AVGC-XR space. In addition, the NCoE will serve not only as an academic accelerator but also production/industrial accelerator.

Main goals of NCoE

The National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for Animation, Visual Effects, Games, Comics and Augmented Reality (AVGC-XR) has several key goals:

1. Skill development: Providing specialist training programmes aimed at developing a skilled workforce in the AVGC-XR sector.

2. Research and development: Supporting innovation and research in new technologies related to animation, visual effects, games, comics and augmented reality.

3. Industry support: Supporting startups and small businesses in the AVGC-XR sector through incubation, mentoring and funding opportunities.

4. Global competitiveness: Making India a global hub for AVGC-XR content creation and attracting foreign investment.

5. Creating jobs: Creating employment opportunities in the media and entertainment industry.

6. Promotion of culture: Strengthening India’s soft power by promoting Indian culture and creativity globally through high-quality content.

The NCoE for AVGC-XR will position India as a content hub offering cutting-edge content, thereby enhancing India’s soft power globally and attracting foreign investments into the media and entertainment sector.