Comic Con India and the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on initiatives in animation, gaming, comics, and extended reality (AVGC-XR).
The MoU was signed by IICT board member Ashish Kulkarni, and Comic Con India CEO Shefali Johnson, during the inauguration of the IICT-NFDC Campus and the release of the WAVES Outcome Report in Mumbai.
The event was attended by senior government dignitaries including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, and secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Sanjay Jaju.
Comic Con India, now part of NODWIN Gaming’s portfolio of youth-focused IPs, continues to champion original content and homegrown talent. It plays a pivotal role in shaping India’s pop culture landscape, providing a vibrant platform for young creators to showcase their work.
IICT, a National Centre of Excellence exclusively dedicated to the AVGC-XR sector, was announced in May by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with industry bodies FICCI and CII. The institute offers world-class education, training, and industry exposure for aspiring students.
This strategic partnership combines Comic Con India’s legacy of building fan-first platforms for creators with IICT’s national mandate to nurture next-generation talent across creative disciplines. The collaboration aims to provide students with immersive opportunities to exhibit their work, engage with industry leaders, and gain real-world experience within creative environments.
According to the FX & Beyond: Shaping India’s AVGC Landscape report, India’s AVGC-XR sector currently accounts for nearly 20% of the broader media and entertainment industry. Revenues are projected to grow from approximately $3.9 billion in 2023 to $6.8bn by 2026. The sector is expected to generate over 160,000 new jobs annually, with more than 2 million direct jobs projected by 2030.
Key highlights of the MoU:
* Student engagement at Comic Con India events, with a dedicated IICT Creative Showcase zone
* Masterclasses and guest lectures by industry professionals from the comics, gaming, animation, and XR fields
* Hackathons, design jams, and content showcases to promote original IP development
* Internships and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities for IICT students at Comic Con India
* Initiatives to grow India’s grassroots creator ecosystem, with a focus on youth, fan art, and indie content.
Johnson said, “We are proud to collaborate with IICT as part of the broader AVGC-XR vision for India, and we are excited about the positive impact this partnership will have in nurturing homegrown creative talent—especially in the field of comics. This collaboration is about creating meaningful pathways for IICT students to engage directly with the industry. Through Comic Con India, students will be able to gain valuable mentorship from leading creators and professionals, connect with the wider pop culture community, enhance their creative skills, and understand the commercial aspects of their craft. We also aim to contribute to building a curriculum that reflects the practical needs of the industry, ensuring students are fully prepared to step confidently into their professional careers.”
Kulkarni added, “Our goal is to make India a global hub for creative content creation & build the leadership through Indigenous Intellectual Property for AVGC-XR and Film making. I believe this partnership perfectly aligns with the government’s AVGC-XR vision of building a globally competitive talent pool, and it will pave the way for Indian creators to make their mark not just nationally but on the world stage. Together with Comic Con India, we look forward to building a vibrant pipeline of storytellers, innovators, creators, publishers, and cultural ambassadors from India, carving the pathways for Indigenous IPs using transmedia eco-system.”
