Mumbai to get India’s first creative technology institute

Nagpur: In a big development for India's creative and media sectors, Maharashtra will establish the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai, on the lines of IITs. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the central govt will allocate Rs400 crore for the venture, which aims to establish Mumbai as a global creative nucleus.
Fadnavis made the announcement at the inaugural session of the World Audio-Visual and Entertainment Summit (Waves 2025) in New Delhi, where Maharashtra was formally designated as the host state. The global summit will be held from May 1 to May 4, 2025, at Jio Convention Centre, Mumbai.
The IICT will be situated in Goregaon's Film City, a strategic locale that presently functions as a hub for India's entertainment industry. Unlike conventional film institutes, the IICT will emphasise advanced creative technologies, encompassing VFX, animation, digital content, Web 3.0, AI-driven storytelling, and media innovations.
"This will transcend being merely an educational institution to become a centre of excellence that shall define the future of India's creative technology landscape," Fadnavis stated. He underscored that IICT will serve as a watershed moment for India's creative industries, akin to IIT Bombay's role in engineering and technology.
The Maharashtra govt has identified premises within Film City for the institute, and the project will be developed in synergy with prominent industry stakeholders and academic luminaries.
Speaking at the WAVES 2025 summit, the CM emphasised Mumbai's position as India's entertainment capital and Bollywood's home. With IICT's establishment, the city is positioned to emerge as a global hub for creative technologies.
"The institute shall mould the next generation of creative professionals and facilitate cutting-edge research opportunities," Fadnavis remarked. He expressed gratitude to PM Narendra Modi for championing Maharashtra's creative economy and providing central assistance for the project.
Fadnavis said that the Waves 2025 summit will function as a global platform for professionals from broadcasting, film, gaming, music, animation, digital media, advertising, and emerging technologies. The event will showcase key initiatives including — Waves Bazaar: A networking marketplace for industry leaders and investors, Waves Accelerator: A programme supporting media-tech startups and Creatosphere, a platform for industry innovation and collaboration.
With participation from over 100 countries, the summit is anticipated to catalyse foreign investments in India's media and entertainment sector, projected to expand to $50 billion by 2029.
"Maharashtra has consistently been a powerhouse of India's media and entertainment industry, contributing substantially to the country's film, television, digital content, gaming, and animation sectors. Mumbai houses Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, Filmistan Studios, Mehboob Studios, and the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII)," the CM stated.
The IICT project and Waves 2025 summit are poised to generate novel opportunities for artists, technologists, and enterprises, further cementing Mumbai's global eminence in the creative industry. With India emerging as a significant player in OTT platforms, hosting over 60 digital streaming services, industry experts forecast the country's evolution into a leading global content hub in the forthcoming years.