The Kerala Cabinet has given the green light to a fresh Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) sector policy. With a vision to generate 50,000 employment opportunities by 2029, the state aims to implement policy measures spanning from school to university levels.
In an official statement, the state government announced that it would harness the resources of Kerala Startup Mission, KSIDC (Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation), KSFC (Kerala State Film Development Corporation), C-DIT (Centre for Development of Imaging Technology), K-FON (Kerala Fiber Optic Network), K-DISC (Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council), and other relevant institutions to foster the growth of the sector.
Additionally, the state government will establish a Center of Excellence (CoE) aimed at offering guidance, implementing best practices, conducting research, extending support, training trainers, and providing skill development programs for the sector. This CoE will offer courses covering a wide array of disciplines such as visual effects, e-sports, game design, editing, quality testing, sound design and engineering, virtual reality, augmented reality, marketing, and beyond. Furthermore, industry professionals will be recruited as “professors of practice” within the center.
A catalyst fund totaling Rs 200 crores will be established to drive this initiative, alongside a Rs 50 crore research fund that will be accessible over the next five years.
