NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet has granted approval for the creation of the National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for the animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality (AVGC-XR) sectors, modeled similarly to the IITs and IIMs, in order to support the animation ecosystem in the country.
According to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, the NCoE will be located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, following a budget announcement by the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs for 2022-23 regarding the formation of an AVGC Task Force.
The Cabinet has sanctioned the NCoE’s formation as a Section 8 company under the Companies Act of 2013, collaborating with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as representatives of industry bodies alongside the government.
The National Centre of Excellence is intended to serve as a leading institution for developing the AVGC-XR ecosystem in India. It will offer specialized training and learning programs to equip both beginners and experienced professionals with advanced skills in cutting-edge AVGC-XR technologies. Additionally, the NCoE will promote research and development, bringing together experts from various domains, such as computer science, engineering, design, and art, to facilitate significant innovations in the AVGC-XR fields.
The NCoE will place significant emphasis on creating intellectual property (IP) in India for both domestic markets and international outreach, ultimately leading to content development inspired by the country’s rich historical and cultural heritage. Furthermore, the NCoE will act as an incubation center, providing resources to support startups and early-stage companies in the AVGC-XR arena, functioning as both an academic and industry accelerator.
By establishing the NCoE for AVGC-XR, India aims to become a central hub for high-quality content, thereby enhancing its global soft power and attracting foreign investment into the Media and Entertainment Sector.
