In a move that bridges academia and the creative industries, Comic Con India and the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on initiatives across animation, gaming, comics, and extended reality (AVGC-XR). The agreement was signed by Ashish Kulkarni, Board Member, IICT, and Shefali Johnson, CEO of Comic Con India, during the inauguration of the IICT-NFDC Campus and the release of the WAVES Outcome Report in Mumbai.

The event was attended by senior government leaders including Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra; Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Honourable Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India; and Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India.

Comic Con India is the country’s premier pop culture celebration and the largest platform for fans and creators of comics, gaming, animation, cosplay, movies, and all things geek culture. Since its inception, it has become a cultural phenomenon, bringing together millions of fans through annual events across multiple cities.Now part of NODWIN Gaming’s growing portfolio of youth-focused IPs, Comic Con India continues to champion original content and homegrown talent, playing a pivotal role in shaping India’s pop culture landscape and providing young creators with a vibrant stage to showcase their work.

IICT, a National Centre of Excellence exclusively dedicated to the AVGC-XR sector, was announced in May 2025 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with industry bodies FICCI and CII.

Positioned to be a game-changer for India’s creative industries, IICT is envisioned to follow the successful model of India’s prestigious IITs and IIMs, offering world-class education, training, and industry exposure to aspiring students.

This strategic partnership brings together Comic Con India’s legacy of building fan-first platforms for creators with IICT’s national mandate to foster next-generation talent across creative disciplines. The collaboration aims to offer students immersive opportunities to showcase their work, engage with industry leaders, and participate in real-world creative environments.

Key highlights of the MoU include:

• Student engagement at Comic Con India events, with a dedicated IICT Creative Showcase zone

• Masterclasses and guest lectures by industry professionals from the comics, gaming, animation, and XR fields

• Hackathons, design jams, and content showcases to promote original IP development

• Internships and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities for IICT students at Comic Con India

• Initiatives to grow India’s grassroots creator ecosystem, with a focus on youth, fan art, and indie content.

Shefali Johnson, CEO of Comic Con India, said, “We are proud to collaborate with IICT as part of the broader AVGC-XR vision for India, and we are excited about the positive impact this partnership will have in nurturing homegrown creative talent—especially in the field of comics. This collaboration is about creating meaningful pathways for IICT students to engage directly with the industry. Through Comic Con India, students will be able to gain valuable mentorship from leading creators and professionals, connect with the wider pop culture community, enhance their creative skills, and understand the commercial aspects of their craft. We also aim to contribute to building a curriculum that reflects the practical needs of the industry, ensuring students are fully prepared to step confidently into their professional careers.”

Ashish Kulkarni, Board Member, IICT, added, “Our goal is to make India a global hub for creative content creation & build the leadership through Indigenous Intellectual Property for AVGC-XR and Film making. I believe this partnership perfectly aligns with the government’s AVGC-XR vision of building a globally competitive talent pool, and it will pave the way for Indian creators to make their mark not just nationally but on the world stage. Together with Comic Con India, we look forward to building a vibrant pipeline of storytellers, innovators, creators, publishers, and cultural ambassadors from India, carving the pathways for Indigenous IPs using transmedia eco-system.”

According to the FX & Beyond: Shaping India’s AVGC Landscape report, India’s AVGC XR sector currently represents nearly 20% of the broader media and entertainment industry, with revenues expected to grow from around US $3.9 billion in 2023 to US $6.8 billion by 2026. The sector is projected to generate over 160,000 new jobs annually, building toward more than 2 million direct jobs by 2030.

The MoU reflects a shared commitment to nurturing talent, accelerating IP creation, and building a sustainable pipeline of skilled professionals in AVGC-XR fields. Specific programs and activations under the agreement will be announced in the coming months.

Following a successful run, the Affiliate Leaders Summit will make its return to the Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL) this September, now expanded to a three-day format and featuring the debut of the Affiliate Leaders Awards.

Taking place from 16–18 September, the Affiliate Leaders Summit runs alongside SBC Summit as a focused, standalone platform for affiliates, affiliate managers, and enabling suppliers. It also delivers a more targeted networking and learning experience, with a dedicated content stage and curated audience of 8,000 operator representatives and 3,500 affiliates.

Affiliate Leaders Summit delegates will also enjoy full access to wider SBC Summit features, including evening socials, the main expo floor, and Super Stage keynotes from leading voices such as Gary Vaynerchuk.

Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, said: “Last year’s launch of the Affiliate Leaders Summit was a big milestone for us. The response was incredible, but we knew we could do even more. That’s why this year, we’re giving it the time it deserves; three full days to ensure attendees can take in everything this event has to offer.

“We’re also introducing the Affiliate Leaders Awards, which I’m personally very excited about. Affiliates play a vital role in this industry, and it’s time we had a platform that truly celebrates their work alongside the operator programmes and suppliers who help make it all happen.”

A 40% expansion of the 2025 show floor also underscores the event’s rising influence, following 2024’s debut that earned standout NPS ratings—79 from affiliates and 68 from operators. This year’s exhibitor list is stacked with leaders of the field, including Catena Media, Clever Advertising, Evoke, Flashscore, Kaizen Gaming, Medier, Megapari, Novibet, and Shake, offering attendees direct access to key players across the affiliate and operator landscape.

On the conference side of things, the Affiliate Leaders Stage at this year’s summit delivers a powerful three-day journey through the evolution of affiliate marketing,  starting with the martech tools redefining performance and partnerships, moving into audience-focused strategies that tap into community-driven SEO and smarter collaboration, and culminating in a forward-looking exploration of AI, diversification beyond Google, and the future role of affiliate managers.

With debates, CEO insights, hands-on workshops, and panels tackling everything from automation and CRM to content authenticity and deal transparency, this stage arms attendees with the ideas, tools, and strategies needed to thrive in a rapidly shifting digital landscape.

The conference sessions will bring together some of the biggest names in affiliate marketing, including Jonathan Edelshaim (CEO, Natural Intelligence), Elaine Gardiner-Ruddock (Managing Director, TAG Media), Peter Gunni (CEO, Traffic Lab), Filip Komljenovic (Head of Sales, Sofascore), Deb Lee (Director of AI & Data Operations, CILA, Entain), Andre Machado (CCO, Clever Advertising), Leanne Muleba (Chief Operations Officer, Matching Visions), and Johan Styren (CEO & Co-founder, Dilanti Media).

Those joining the Affiliate Leaders Summit will benefit not only from the tailored content on the dedicated stage and Super Stage but also from the addition of the Global Markets and Emerging Markets stages. With affiliates and operators among the most curious about cross-border growth, these new stages provide an ideal opportunity to explore regional strategies and understand new audiences.

Affiliate and operator attendees can expect the VIP treatment at the Affiliate Leaders Summit, with complimentary access to the event’s premium evening networking lineup. That includes the high-energy Opening Party with Joel Corry and Imanbek, and the return of INFINITY Lisbon, featuring electrifying performances from Alok and Timmy Trumpet.

Sojmark added: “The Affiliate Leaders Summit is designed to make networking and easier by giving you a dedicated space to connect. But the hospitality doesn’t stop there. You’re part of the full SBC Summit experience. With access to all six stages, complimentary food and drinks at the Food Festival, and the freedom to explore every area of the event, you’re welcome to engage as widely as you like. The Affiliate Leaders Summit simply helps you focus your efforts where they matter most.”

Affiliate or operator? Get your free pass now.

Not an operator or affiliate? Here’s how to get a pass:

VIP Event Pass – Enjoy full access to the event, including: all conference sessions, evening networking parties, pre-loaded food festival wristband with €30, and post-event access to all content.

Group VIP Event Pass – Get VIP Event Passes for just €400 each (a saving of €200 per ticket!) when you buy three or more passes (Perfect for bringing the team along!)

Expo+ Pass: Gain access to the full exhibition floor and all conference sessions across the three days. This does not include access to our exclusive VIP evening networking events.

Expo Only Pass: Free to attend, this pass gives you access to the exhibition floor –  perfect for networking and exploring the show without attending the conference sessions.