IICT Launched at WAVES 2025: India’s Global Push in Animation, Gaming, and XR Technologies

02 May 2025 07:28 AM
##IICT #WAVES Summit 2025 #AVGC-XR #Animation India #Digital Content Innovation

In a landmark moment at the WAVES Summit 2025, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced the launch of the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) a bold initiative that aims to place India at the forefront of global digital content creation and immersive media innovation. This newly unveiled institute will serve as a national powerhouse for the AVGC-XR sector, which includes Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality.

As the global digital entertainment landscape rapidly evolves, India is stepping forward to become a key player. The IICT is not merely an educational institution but a strategic hub intended to nurture world-class talent, encourage international collaborations, and build cutting-edge infrastructure in emerging creative technologies. Its launch signifies the Indian government's strong commitment to establishing the country as a global content leader.

The first phase of IICT has already been activated at the NFDC Building on Pedder Road, Mumbai, strategically chosen for its accessibility and integration within India’s media capital. This location will serve as the starting point for workshops, courses, prototype development, and immersive training in areas like 3D animation, AR/VR environments, virtual production, and game design. In its second phase, the government plans a major infrastructure expansion with the development of a dedicated 10-acre campus in Film City, Goregaon. This state-of-the-art facility will house advanced production labs, collaborative research zones, XR studios, content incubators, and international training centers. With this vision, the IICT is designed not just for today’s needs but also for the future of storytelling, blending creativity and technology like never before.

One of the most forward-looking elements of the IICT initiative is its planned collaboration with top global players in the tech, gaming, and entertainment industries. The goal is to create an environment where Indian talent can work alongside global experts, access the latest technologies, and contribute to international projects. By building a pipeline that connects youth with opportunities in high-demand global markets, IICT will enhance employability while boosting India’s exports of digital creative services. The institute will also offer specialized programs in AI-driven animation, real-time VFX pipelines, game engine technologies, and immersive media production, preparing the next generation for frontier technologies that are rapidly reshaping the entertainment world.

The IICT launch is a cornerstone in the Government of India’s broader strategy to transform the country into a global creative economy. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to emphasize digital transformation and talent development, the IICT bridges a crucial gap in the current education and production ecosystem. This initiative is especially timely, as global demand for digital content has surged post-pandemic, with animation, gaming, and immersive content becoming dominant forms of communication and entertainment. Countries around the world are investing in these sectors, and with IICT, India is poised to become not just a service provider but a center of innovation and original IP creation. Through this move, India sends a clear message to the world: it’s ready to not just consume but lead in the global narrative of digital creativity and technological storytelling.

As the IICT begins operations, it promises to open up new frontiers for students, creators, technologists, and industry professionals. With a blend of academic excellence, real-world production experience, and international exposure, it will become the launchpad for the next generation of storytellers, game developers, animators, XR engineers, and media innovators. The launch at WAVES Summit 2025 marks more than just the beginning of an institution it marks the beginning of India’s next creative revolution. The AVGC-XR sector, long hailed as a sleeping giant, is now waking up with IICT leading the way.

Pooja Hegde to Reunite with Allu Arjun for the Third Time in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Upcoming Film?

Pooja Hegde is once again in the spotlight as new reports suggest that she could reunite with Allu Arjun for the third time in an upcoming high-budget film. The Allu Arjun-Pooja Hegde combination has already proven successful with major hits like Ala Vaikunthapuramloo, which turned into a box-office sensation, sparking excitement among fans for their next collaboration. According to ongoing industry buzz, Pooja Hegde is being considered as the female lead in Allu Arjun's upcoming project with di

Laila: Latest Telugu Movie Vishwak Sen's Film Faces Backlash But Gains Attention Amid Controversy

Laila, Vishwak Sen’s upcoming film, is set to release on February 14, 2025. Initially, the film had limited buzz, but the presence of Megastar Chiranjeevi at the pre-release event raised expectations. However, a speech by actor "30 Years" Prithvi became the center of controversy when he made remarks targeting the YCP government and sitting MLAs. These comments didn’t sit well with the ruling party members, who quickly took to social media to express their disple

Natural Star Nani Appreciates Team Writer Padmabhushan

The film Writer Padmabhushan starring Suhas and Tina Shilparaj is emerging as a huge blockbuster. The movie won the appreciation of critics and audiences alike. What’s more, several celebrities too heaped praises on the movie and its makers. Freshly, Natural Star Nani expressed his happiness for the movie becoming such a big hit. Nani said that Suhas is one of his favorite actors and he enjoys watching him on screen. “I’m happy that new-age content is getting such

Salaar: Prabhas's leaked pics going viral

Unsolicited leaks from the sets of a superstar's film has become more like a regularity these days. This time around, Prabhas and Prashanth Neel's Salaar has fallen prey to these social media leaks. A set of snaps of Prabhas in action mode while shooting for Salaar have surfaced on social media. In these pics, Prabhas is seen in full costumes, meaning that these pics are straight from the scene shoot. We can't share these pictures here for obvious r

Suriya’s New Family Drama Viswanath & Sons: A Soft Side Revealed

Tamil superstar Suriya has garnered a loyal fan following in the Telugu states, but recent years have seen him struggling at the box office despite his consistent attempts at diversifying his roles. While films like Jai Bhim and Aakasam Nee Haddura earned massive praise for their compelling narratives, both of these projects released on OTT platforms, which limited their full theatrical potential. Despite experimenting with various genres, some of Suriya’s commercial projects failed to make an i

Ram Charan Sends Best Wishes to NTR Ahead of Devara Release

As anticipation builds for the release of NTR's Devara, Mega Powerstar Ram Charan has expressed his support for the film and its team. Taking to X, he shared a heartfelt message: “Wishing my brother Tarak and the entire Devara team all the best for tomorrow.” This marks an exciting moment for fans as NTR prepares for his first solo release in six years, following the success of Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava. Devara reunites NTR with direct

Upcoming Telugu Movie Meghalu Cheppina Prema Katha Teaser 2 Impresses

Meghalu Cheppina Prema Katha, starring Naresh Agastya and Rubiya Khatoo, continues to build interest with its newly released second teaser, offering a deeper emotional dive into its romantic narrative. While the first teaser established a charming chemistry between the leads, this new glimpse shifts the tone. It focuses on the inner turmoil of Naresh’s character, portrayed as a man weighed down by societal pressu

Phalana Abbayi Phalana Ammayi's official OTT partner

Phalana Abbayi Phalana Ammayi, featuring Naga Shaurya and Malavika Menon in the lead roles hit the big screens across the Telugu states today and it opened to mixed reviews following the theatrical debut. The discussion now is about the OTT release prospect of the film and here's what we have to say about the same. The post theatrical OTT streaming rights of this Naga Shaurya and Malavika Menon starrer are with Sun NXT now and the same is officially confirmed through t

Producer Naga Vamsi's ₹1500 Cinema Debate Sparks Mixed Reactions on Social Media

Producer Naga Vamsi recently stirred the pot with his statement that spending ₹1500 on a three-hour movie represents the cheapest form of entertainment. His comments were met with a wave of ridicule on social media, where users creatively pointed out numerous alternative ways to spend that money on entertainment. The backlash intensified when Vamsi justified the rising ticket prices due to increased production costs necessary for big films to break even. However, fellow producer S

Korean Kanakaraju Teaser Packs Horror, Comedy and Action

The Korean Kanakaraju teaser introduces Varun Tej as a carefree Rayalaseema youngster whose romance with a Korean woman leads to supernatural chaos. Prabhas launched the teaser, which blends comedy, horror, fantasy and action ahead of its August 7 release. Varun Tej returns with a colourful new entertainer in Korean Kanakaraju, directed by Merlapaka Gandhi. The teaser, unveiled by Prabhas, introduces a lively combination of romance, comedy, fantasy, horror and action. Its unusual Indo-Korean set

Boxoffice

IICT Launched at WAVES 2025: India’s Global Push in Animation, Gaming, and XR Technologies

TRENDING

Pooja Hegde to Reunite with Allu Arjun for the Third Time in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Upcoming Film?

Laila: Latest Telugu Movie Vishwak Sen's Film Faces Backlash But Gains Attention Amid Controversy

Natural Star Nani Appreciates Team Writer Padmabhushan

Salaar: Prabhas's leaked pics going viral

Suriya’s New Family Drama Viswanath & Sons: A Soft Side Revealed

Ram Charan Sends Best Wishes to NTR Ahead of Devara Release

Upcoming Telugu Movie Meghalu Cheppina Prema Katha Teaser 2 Impresses

Phalana Abbayi Phalana Ammayi's official OTT partner

Producer Naga Vamsi's ₹1500 Cinema Debate Sparks Mixed Reactions on Social Media

Korean Kanakaraju Teaser Packs Horror, Comedy and Action

Popular Cities

Sign In

IICT Launched at WAVES 2025: India’s Global Push in Animation, Gaming, and XR Technologies

Email Friend

Popular Cities