# Comic Con India Partners with IICT: Boosting AVGC-XR Talent

URL: https://technosports.co.in/comic-con-india-partners-with-iict/  
Published: 2025-07-23  
Updated: 2025-07-23  
Author: Hardik Dhamija

[Comic Con India](https://www.comicconindia.com/) has signed a groundbreaking MoU with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) to revolutionize talent development in India’s Animation, [Gaming](https://technosports.co.in/?s=Gaming), Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) sector. This first-of-its-kind partnership was formalized during the IICT-NFDC Campus inauguration in Mumbai, marking a significant milestone for India’s creative industries.

![Comic Con India](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Comic-Con-India-1.webp)
*Comic Con India*

## **Table of Contents**

## **Strategic Partnership Details at a Glance**

| **Partnership Aspect** | **Details** |
| --- | --- |
| **Signatories** | Comic Con India (Shefali Johnson, CEO) & IICT (Ashish Kulkarni, Board Member) |
| **Venue** | IICT-NFDC Campus inauguration, Mumbai |
| **Focus Sectors** | Animation, Gaming, Comics, Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) |
| **Target Audience** | Students, emerging creators, industry professionals |
| **Market Size** | AVGC-XR sector: $3.9B (2023) → $6.8B (2026) |
| **Job Creation** | 160,000+ annual jobs, 2M+ direct jobs by 2030 |

## **Key Collaboration Highlights**

This strategic alliance brings together Comic Con India’s massive pop culture platform—reaching over 330 million digitally and attracting 200,000+ enthusiasts annually—with IICT’s national mandate to foster creative talent.

The partnership will deliver **dedicated IICT Creative Showcase zones** at Comic Con events, **masterclasses by industry professionals**, and **hackathons promoting original IP development**. Students will gain **internship opportunities** and behind-the-scenes access to India’s largest pop culture celebration.

![Comic con india 2](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Comic-Con-India-2-1024x576.webp)
*Comic Con India*

## **Industry Impact and Vision**

IICT, established as India’s creative excellence center following the IIT-IIM model, represents the government’s commitment to building global AVGC-XR capabilities. The institute operates from its Phase 1 campus at NFDC premises, Mumbai, with plans for a state-of-the-art 10-acre permanent campus in Filmcity, Goregaon.

“This collaboration creates meaningful pathways for students to engage directly with the industry,” said Shefali Johnson, CEO of Comic Con India. The partnership emphasizes **grassroots creator ecosystem development**, focusing on youth engagement, fan art, and indie content production.

![Comic con india 3](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Comic-Con-India-3-1.webp)
*Comic Con India*

## **Building Indigenous IP Ecosystem**

With India’s AVGC-XR sector representing nearly 20% of the broader media and entertainment industry, this collaboration addresses the critical need for skilled professionals and original content creation. The partnership aims to develop **transmedia storytellers, innovators, and cultural ambassadors** who can compete globally while promoting Indigenous Intellectual Property.

The MoU reflects India’s ambitious vision to become a global creative content hub, supported by cutting-edge infrastructure including Animation labs, VFX studios, Gaming facilities, and Virtual Production capabilities at IICT’s Mumbai campus.

## **FAQs**

### **What makes this MoU unique for India’s creative sector?**

It’s the first partnership combining pop culture platforms with institutional excellence, creating direct industry-academia pathways.

### **How many jobs will India’s AVGC-XR sector create by 2030?**

The sector is projected to generate over 2 million direct jobs by 2030.