ET Bureau BENGALURU: Karnataka is reworking its animation, visual effects, gaming and comics policy (AVGC) to extend more support for the sunrise industry to grow both technologically and in terms of output in Bengaluru and other tier-II cities in Karnataka.
The policy will also woo overseas production houses to set up their Indian centres in the state by taking advantage of the production-linked incentives the policy is expected to offer, and the skilled talent pool that is available.
The IT, BT, and Science & Technology department, which is working on the policy in consultation with the industry body ABAI, is keen on getting overseas AVGC firms on board so that Bengaluru and other tier-II cities will benefit from the high-end technology.
"It is not enough if we get outsourcing deals. In fact, we are keen to encourage our professionals to create original intellectual property content. India has a vast repertoire of epics and stories, and we can tap into this pool to create our own original content," said Priyank Kharge, Karnataka's IT Minister, himself a diploma holder in graphic designing and animation.
The minister said that the government is trying to set up a centre of excellence for animation. The focus of the new policy, according to V Manjula, principal secretary at the IT & BT department, will be on giving production grants for activities such as animated feature films and visual effect projects. "We will be looking at promoting high-end work," she said.
"The first policy focussed on education, and we want the next policy to focus on expanding the talent pool and prepare them for global projects," said Biren Ghose, president of ABAI.
Manjula said the government is working with the state's fine arts colleges to encourage students to pick up skills in creating their artwork in the digital medium, and widen their employment opportunities. The government already has a fund to help colleges set up digital centres, and 19 colleges, in all, will receive support next year.
About 22% of India's game developers and service providers are located in Bengaluru, Manjula said, citing a Nasscom report. Bengaluru also has 11% of country's AVG development studios, she added. Karnataka is registering Rs 20 crore AVGC fund to promote cutting-edge work in the AVGC sector. The government has already released its share of Rs 10 crore, while the rest will come from private venture funds. "This is a first of its kind policy specifically directed towards the AVGC sector," Manjula said.
According to reports, India has 300 plus animation, 40-odd VFX and 85-odd game development studios with more than 15,000 professionals working for them.
"We are working with the government to set up a finishing school to make our graduates production-ready," Ghose said. ABAI, he added, is also in the process of setting up a lab that can be shared by creative people to create the products they wish.
"India is less than 1% of world market in AVAG sector, but has great headroom for growth in the coming years," Ghose said.
The policy will also woo overseas production houses to set up their Indian centres in the state by taking advantage of the production-linked incentives the policy is expected to offer, and the skilled talent pool that is available.
The IT, BT, and Science & Technology department, which is working on the policy in consultation with the industry body ABAI, is keen on getting overseas AVGC firms on board so that Bengaluru and other tier-II cities will benefit from the high-end technology.
"It is not enough if we get outsourcing deals. In fact, we are keen to encourage our professionals to create original intellectual property content. India has a vast repertoire of epics and stories, and we can tap into this pool to create our own original content," said Priyank Kharge, Karnataka's IT Minister, himself a diploma holder in graphic designing and animation.
The minister said that the government is trying to set up a centre of excellence for animation. The focus of the new policy, according to V Manjula, principal secretary at the IT & BT department, will be on giving production grants for activities such as animated feature films and visual effect projects. "We will be looking at promoting high-end work," she said.
"The first policy focussed on education, and we want the next policy to focus on expanding the talent pool and prepare them for global projects," said Biren Ghose, president of ABAI.
Manjula said the government is working with the state's fine arts colleges to encourage students to pick up skills in creating their artwork in the digital medium, and widen their employment opportunities. The government already has a fund to help colleges set up digital centres, and 19 colleges, in all, will receive support next year.
About 22% of India's game developers and service providers are located in Bengaluru, Manjula said, citing a Nasscom report. Bengaluru also has 11% of country's AVG development studios, she added. Karnataka is registering Rs 20 crore AVGC fund to promote cutting-edge work in the AVGC sector. The government has already released its share of Rs 10 crore, while the rest will come from private venture funds. "This is a first of its kind policy specifically directed towards the AVGC sector," Manjula said.
According to reports, India has 300 plus animation, 40-odd VFX and 85-odd game development studios with more than 15,000 professionals working for them.
"We are working with the government to set up a finishing school to make our graduates production-ready," Ghose said. ABAI, he added, is also in the process of setting up a lab that can be shared by creative people to create the products they wish.
"India is less than 1% of world market in AVAG sector, but has great headroom for growth in the coming years," Ghose said.
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