Converting Karnataka’s Creative Technology Vision into Reality

By Pickle March 5, 2026

Converting Karnataka’s Creative Technology Vision into Reality

Karnataka’s Department of Electronics, IT, and Biotechnology (IT/BT) is transforming the AVGC XR landscape, blending policy, innovation, and industry support to drive creative technology growth and global leadership. By Dr N Manjula

Biren Ghose President ABAI stated that “Imagination flourishes when institutions provide continuity and confidence”. He requested the Secretary for Department of Electronics, Information Technology and Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka Dr. Manjula N to position the efforts of the creative sector in the context of the larger portfolio that makes the K-Tech hub a collaboration that is a great sum of parts spanning Electronics, IT, and Biotechnology (IT/BT) focuses on fostering a high-tech ecosystem through key areas including Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM), startups, biotechnology, and digital technologies.

Karnataka has long been recognised as India’s leading technology and innovation hub, and platforms such as GAFX play a vital role in bringing together the global technology and creative communities to exchange ideas, showcase innovation, and build meaningful collaborations. Guided by the Department of IT & BT, developed in partnership with ABAI, and expertly managed by Phase 1, Bengaluru GAFX 2026 is set to elevate its scale and ambition—promising a bigger, bolder edition this year.

The Department of Electronics, IT and BT continues to focus on building a strong and future-ready ecosystem that enables innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment across emerging sectors. In recent years, Karnataka has witnessed remarkable growth in the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC-XR) sector, which is increasingly shaping the future of digital media, immersive experiences, and creative technology.

Recognising the immense potential of this sector, the Government of Karnataka introduced the Karnataka AVGC-XR Policy 2.0 (2024–2029), one of the most forward-looking initiatives in the country aimed at strengthening the AVGC ecosystem. The policy focuses on enabling world-class infrastructure, supporting studios and startups, encouraging research and innovation, and building a strong talent pipeline through skilling and industry–academia collaboration. Through this initiative, the state is actively working to position Karnataka as a global hub for AVGC-XR and immersive media.

Karnataka today accounts for a significant share of India’s digital media and entertainment industry, with over 300 specialised AVGC-XR studios and a workforce of more than 15,000 professionals contributing to this dynamic sector. Complementing the policy framework, the state has also established the Karnataka AVGC-XR Centre of Excellence along with a network of 21 other Centres of Excellence across emerging technology domains to foster innovation, strengthen industry–academia collaboration, and nurture the next generation of talent.

This growing AVGC-XR ecosystem is also closely linked with Karnataka’s strong presence of Global Capability Centres (GCCs). The state today hosts over 875 GCCs — the largest concentration in the country — many of which are evolving into global hubs for advanced engineering, product development, design, research, and digital innovation. As global enterprises increasingly integrate immersive technologies, gaming, digital content creation, and interactive media into their operations, Bengaluru’s GCC ecosystem is emerging as a key enabler for creative technology and AVGC-led innovation. This convergence is creating new opportunities for collaboration between technology companies, creative studios, startups, and talent in the state.

Through targeted initiatives supporting startups, research and development, skilling, and global partnerships, the Department continues to strengthen Karnataka’s position as a preferred destination for technology investment and innovation. Efforts are focused on enabling the growth of emerging sectors, expanding the state’s R&D capabilities, supporting the expansion of GCCs, and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators to build globally competitive enterprises from Karnataka.

Events such as GAFX reflect the powerful convergence of creativity and technology and provide an important platform for showcasing the talent, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit that define Karnataka’s ecosystem. This edition shall further strengthen collaborations, inspire new ideas, and open new opportunities for the AVGC community and the broader technology industry.