The eXperiential Technology Innovation Centre (XTIC), an IIT Madras Institute of Eminence Centre in Virtual Reality and Related Fields, is going to open the ‘XTIC-APP’ (Academic Partnership Program) to drive the growth of the ‘Extended Reality’ (XR) sector in India. The significant mission is to boost the number of highly trained XR developers and designers in India for the global market.
This initiative aims to boost the XR field and bridge the gap between Applied R&D and Core R&D. It will also support the startup ecosystem and be a stepping stone for expanding XR courses globally. Vice Chancellors and Principals of leading academic institutions will sign the MoU during the XR Summit, scheduled to be held on November 16th and 17th, 2024, at the IIT Madras campus.
‘eXtended Reality’ (XR) refers to Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR). Thanks to its cutting-edge Haptics Lab and the IoE Center for VR and Haptics, IIT Madras is uniquely positioned to lead this effort.
Highlighting the significance of this Summit, Prof. M. Manivannan, Faculty Head, XTIC, IIT Madras, said:
As we published in the Whitepaper on XR In India earlier this year, to realize the goal of India establishing an XR Corridor by 2047, we must get academia on board to produce workforce resources of high-quality XR system designers and developers, both hardware and software, both applied R&D and core R&D. This XR Summit focussing on Innovations in XR is a critical step towards this Vikshit Bharat 2047.
The XR Summit will also witness the launch of the first ever ‘Game Jam’ on XR Readiness, which will showcase the evolution of XR technology through the display of XR Devices and gamified parameters that influence the adoption of this technology across multiple industries The Summit will also feature innovations in XR Hardware, XR Software, Embodiment, XR Immersive Designers and will see the participation of Gamification experts. This summit will drive the growth of this sector at IIT Madras and create a corridor for high-quality XR content and design startups in India.
Key objectives of the XR Summit include creating a Roadmap for XR Corridor in India:
- Integrating AI/ML and Gaming with XR to make XR experiences more personalized, responsive, and intelligent. GenAI could assist in creating realistic virtual environments, refining object recognition, and enhancing gesture and voice control.
- Working with International standards organizations to develop Interoperability Standards, APIs and software solutions that make XTIC compatible with various devices from various industries.
- Through CAVE, our industrial consortium, establishing a network of high-quality content creators and developers worldwide to contribute to XTIC’s library of applications, games, and experiences.
- Working with global industries at various levels: Sponsored by global industries such as Qualcomm, participation of global industries such as Sony, workshops by global industries such as Samsung.
The XR Startup Awards will also be given out during the XR Summit by American Computer Scientist Steve LaValle, the co-inventor of Oculus VR Set. The Awards are dedicated to recognizing and empowering startups that are pushing boundaries and paving the way for a brighter future.
