Ashwini Vaishnaw Launches IICT AVGC-XR Hub with Jio Adobe Google

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has ceremonially launched strategic associations, expressing optimism about India’s potential to become a global leader in media and entertainment. The announcement was made at the inauguration of the WAVES 2025 summit in Mumbai, marking a major stride for the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) in transforming the media landscape.

Vaishnaw emphasized that IICT is rapidly on track to evolve into a leading institution akin to the IITs and IIMs, setting benchmarks in technology and management education. The minister highlighted the novel initiative aligning with the vision to position India as a global leader in the media and entertainment sector.

The IICT plans to develop into a world-class education and training hub for aspiring professionals in the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) sector. Vaishnaw explained, “We have initiated a platform that stands unprecedented in the film and entertainment world. This follows the vision of our Prime Minister, demonstrating our capability to lead globally in the media sector.”

The minister expressed gratitude to the industry partners willing to collaborate with IICT. Notable global companies have agreed to support in areas such as curriculum development, internships, scholarships, startup funding, and job placements. Vaishnaw noted, “I thank all industry partners and their management for expressing their willingness to partner with us. Their collaboration will help build and sustain long-term growth for this institution, enabling it to emerge as an extensive educational infrastructure for the AVGC-XR sector.”

Prominent companies like JioStar, Adobe, Google, YouTube, Meta, Wacom, Microsoft, and NVIDIA have extended commitments for long-term collaboration. During the session, representatives from IICT and these industry partners exchanged Letters of Intent (LoIs), marking the onset of cohesive efforts to reinforce the AVGC-XR ecosystem in India.

These alliances aim to foster education, research and development, and innovation in animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, film, and extended reality, replicating India’s successful IT model in the creative and digital media arena. The goal is to cultivate a sustainable ecosystem geared towards future growth.

The ceremony was graced by industry leaders, including Richard Kerris (VP & GM, Media & Entertainment, Nvidia), Sanjog Gupta (CEO, Sports & Live Experiences, Jio Star), Mala Sharma (VP & GM – Education, Adobe), and Preeti Lobana (Country Head & VP, Google India). Additionally, board members and the governing council of IICT also attended, illustrating the robust support and pivotal role these entities envision in India’s AVGC-XR landscape.

Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Dr. L Murugan; Secretary, Ministry of I&B, Sanjay Jaju; and Principal Director General, Press Information Bureau, Dhirendra Ojha, were also present during the exchange of agreements, reinforcing the significance and collaborative spirit of this initiative.

This launch signifies a collaborative future for the AVGC-XR sector, with India poised to make significant strides as a leader in media and entertainment on the global stage.