IICT Mumbai: India’s Ambitious Leap into Creative Technology with Global Tech Giants
In a groundbreaking move to elevate India’s standing in the global creative technology landscape, the central government has announced the establishment of the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai. Modelled after the prestigious IITs and IIMs, IICT will be a National Centre of Excellence exclusively dedicated to the rapidly growing AVGC-XR sector—animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality.
A National First: Institute for AVGC-XR Excellence
IICT marks India’s first dedicated institution for creative technologies. It aims to replicate the success of India’s IT revolution in the dynamic media and entertainment space. The institute will focus on nurturing talent, advancing research and development, and fostering innovation in animation, gaming, VFX, comics, and immersive technologies like XR (Extended Reality).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has allocated ₹400 crore to establish this visionary institution. The Maharashtra government has already earmarked 10 acres of land at Mumbai Film City, Goregaon, for the institute's permanent campus. Until its dedicated campus is ready, IICT will function from a state government facility at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai.
Global Tech Giants Sign On as Long-term Collaborators
The announcement was made during the WAVE Summit 2025 at Jio World Centre, Mumbai, with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw leading the declaration. Tech powerhouses, including NVIDIA, Google, Apple, Microsoft, Star India, Meta, and Adobe, have pledged long-term collaboration with IICT. This move is expected to catapult India’s AVGC-XR ecosystem onto the global stage.
On the third day of the summit, Microsoft, Google, and Meta signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to formalise their partnerships. These collaborations aim to advance education, R&D, and innovation in creative technologies, while also helping shape IICT into a world-class academic and industry-oriented institution.
IICT’s Vision and Mission
Union Minister Vaishnaw emphasized IICT’s transformative potential: "This is a major leap towards empowering India’s AVGC-XR ecosystem. IICT will emerge as a premier institution in its field, just as IITs and IIMs have become benchmarks in technology and management.”
The institute’s framework will mirror IITs and IIMs — blending rigorous academics with strong industry linkage to nurture next-generation creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs. The long-term goal is to build a sustainable, self-reliant ecosystem that positions India as a global leader in media and entertainment technologies.
Robust Governance and Expert Leadership
IICT will be spearheaded by a Board and Governing Council comprising eminent industry leaders and experts. Key members include Ashish Kulkarni, Biren Ghosh, Manvendra Shukul, Munjal Shroff, Chaitanya Chinchlikar, and Subhash Sapru.
The executive leadership team includes:
Dr. Vishwas Deoskar, CEO
Ninad Raikar, COO
Shweta Verma, Marketing Lead
IICT representatives and industry partners exchanged Letters of Intent (LoIs) during the event, marking the beginning of collaborative efforts to strengthen India’s creative tech ecosystem.
State-of-the-Art Infrastructure and Nationwide Reach
IICT’s infrastructure promises to set a new creative education and innovation benchmark. The institute will feature:
Virtual production setups
Immersive studios
Animation and gaming labs
Editing and sound suites
Smart classrooms for collaborative learning
The permanent campus at Film City, Goregaon, will be developed in a second phase, spanning 10 acres. To ensure nationwide accessibility, the government plans to establish regional centres across India in future phases, decentralising access to cutting-edge creative tech education.
Diverse Focus Areas for a Thriving Ecosystem
The institute’s mandate extends beyond education alone. IICT will engage in:
Training & Skill Development: Equipping students and professionals with industry-relevant skills.
Incubation & Entrepreneurship Support: Fostering startups and creative ventures.
Innovation & Research: Driving advancements in emerging creative technologies.
Policy-Making Support: Assisting in developing frameworks and guidelines for the AVGC-XR industry.
By integrating education, research, innovation, and policy support, IICT aims to offer expansive opportunities for aspiring creators, professionals, and entrepreneurs. The ecosystem encourages technical expertise and creative excellence, empowering India’s youth to contribute globally in this fast-evolving sector.
A Milestone for India’s Media and Entertainment Ambitions
IICT stands as a testament to India’s vision of becoming a global media and entertainment industry leader. Union Minister Vaishnaw concluded, “We have initiated something novel in the global film and entertainment. With committed industry partners and strong institutional frameworks, IICT is poised to become a world-class educational infrastructure for the AVGC-XR sector.”
Conclusion
The launch of IICT is more than just the creation of an institute—it is the beginning of a movement to position India at the forefront of creative technology innovation. Backed by global tech giants and eminent industry experts and driven by the government’s commitment, IICT is set to redefine creative education and propel India’s AVGC-XR sector into a new era of global prominence.
