Karnataka is embedding immersive technologies across education, medical training: CM Siddaramaiah

The state is embedding immersive technologies into education, medical training, and heritage preservation, ensuring that innovation serves society, chief minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday.

The CM’s statement follows his inauguration of GAFX 2026, a three-day conference on animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality (XR) held in Bengaluru.

"With the potential to create 20 lakh jobs over the next five years, this sector empowers our youth to become creators of virtual, cinematic, and interactive worlds. Karnataka's talent is already making its mark in global cinema, gaming, and OTT platforms," Siddaramaiah said in a statement. He added that growth must be geographically expansive and socially inclusive, unlocking opportunities across every district of the state.


IT/BT minister Priyank Kharge told ET on the sidelines that generative AI (GenAI) is transforming animation and VFX workflows. He further said that the state is working closely with industry leaders to identify the interventions needed to position Karnataka strongly in this AI-driven era.

Kharge, at the event, also chaired high-level consultation meetings with industry leaders and global partners at the Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) international roundtable held during the event, said the IT/BT department in a statement. According to the IT/BT department, these meetings aimed to develop a blueprint for transitioning the state's animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality (AVGC-XR) sector from a service-led model to one centred on original intellectual property (IP) creation.

Kharge further said that the state must move decisively beyond outsourced services and build a robust ecosystem rooted in IP ownership, innovation, and global competitiveness. "If the industry succeeds, the government succeeds. As AI rapidly transforms animation, gaming, and content creation, Karnataka must stay ahead of disruption," he said.

"Our focus is clear: strengthen skilling, expand global collaboration through the GIA framework, and shift decisively from a service-led model to one driven by original IP creation," he added.

The delegation, which included IT/BT secretary Manjula N, managing director of the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur, and senior global industry experts, deliberated on key issues including skilling and employability, AI and technological disruption, and the growth of gaming and esports.