Karnataka, is stealing a march over other Indian states when it comes to leveraging the burgeoning business of animation and gaming services. It has joined hands with the state-based industry body --Association of Bangalore Animation Industry (ABAI)-- to jointly prepare has a document spelling out the Animation, VFX and Gaming (AVG) policy for the state. Animation Xpress.com reports that the the policy is likely to announce the setting up of a Centre of Excellence and incubation facility on Public-private partnership model; allocation of land in a new Special Economic Zone to be known as IT Investment Region (ITIR ) which is to come near Bengaluru International Airport and involvement of the state’s Education department for setting up a Vision Group and finishing school.
A Karnataka AVG Summit 2010 is being held in Bangalore on on March 20, with state government-ABAI partnership and powered by AnimationXpress. The policy is likely to be unveiled at this event to jumpstart the animation activities in the state. 

The Indian animation industry is forecast to reach $869 million by 2010, while the Indian gaming industry is estimated to cross $424 million by 2010. However Business Standard quoted KPMG Advisory Services Director Jaiddep Ghosh recently, saying the combined Indian media market might cross $ 1 billion by 2010 end – still just 10 percent of the $ 10 billion US opportunity.
Karnataka is not the first state to realise the potential of animation and gaming. Even 6 years ago, Kerala set up the nation’s first exclusive infotainment park, the KINFRA Film and Video Park, at Kazhakkuttam, near the state capital Thiruvananthapuram and a year ago, was sanctioned an international animation school with central seed funding, to fuel activities in the nation;s first animation SEZ within the park. However the full potential of the park and SEZ is yet to be realised.

Only weeks ago at the annual summit of the Indian Semiconductor Association, Karnataka unveiled its semiconductor policy, the first state to do so. http://www.bangaloreitbt.in/worddocument/pdf/semiconductor%20brochure.pdf. Now by formalising a separate policy for animation and gaming, the state has put neighbours on notice that it aims to leave no administrative action un addressed in its quest to -- literally – animate Karnataka.

See our earlier story on the Kerala animation initiative: http://www.indiatechonline.com/kinfra-film-and-video-park-181.php

Read the Animation Xpress story on Karnataka Animation policy: http://www.animationxpress.com//anex/headlines2k10/anex5477.htm

Feb 16 2010 
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