Hyderabad set to emerge as India’s ‘Creativity Hub’: Minister Sridhar Babu

Telangana IT and Industries Minister Sridhar Babu said that the state government is working with a strategic long-term vision to elevate Hyderabad beyond its status as India’s Information Technology capital and position it as the country’s leading “Creativity Hub” in the coming decade. Speaking at the inauguration of India Joy 2025 at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre, he noted that the future of economic growth will not depend only on software and engineering but on the fusion of creativity, imagination, narrative and design alongside cutting-edge technology. The event is jointly organised by the Telangana Government and the Telangana Visual Effects, Animation and Gaming Association.

The Minister highlighted that Hyderabad is emerging as a convergence point of three crucial domains: technology, storytelling and design and this blend will lead the next phase of urban development and job creation. He said that along with the IT services sector, emerging industries such as animation, gaming, digital media, VFX and content creation are expected to shape Hyderabad’s economic future. Globally, the AVGC market is expanding rapidly and India is considered one of the fastest-growing destinations for outsourced VFX and gaming production. Hyderabad, over the last five years, has emerged as a major centre competing directly with Bengaluru, Mumbai, Seoul, Toronto and Singapore for international creative contracts and IP development work.

Sridhar Babu explained that massive infrastructure projects such as the Image Tower, which will become fully operational next year, the upcoming AI Innovation Hub and the proposed AI City will position Hyderabad strongly in the global creative technology race at a time when cities across the world are aggressively competing to build creative capital. The Minister emphasised that the government does not want to function as a regulator in the creative economy space but as a collaborative partner for investment and innovation. He invited global gaming studios, OTT players, production houses, content creators and creative entrepreneurs to partner with the state in scaling up next-generation creative industries.

As part of this vision, the government is planning to roll out a ‘Creative Futures Fund’ a specialised capital support fund designed to financially back startups and young creators in animation, gaming, VFX, digital media and design. Startups will be able to utilise this fund for early-stage support to take their innovative ideas into the commercial market. Telangana’s policy is clear no talented creator should be stopped due to lack of investment access. Special programmes are also being planned to increase women’s participation in digital content development, gaming and design sectors through targeted subsidies, skill programmes and production grants, which could make Telangana the first state in India with a structured women-led creative IP accelerator model.

Industry representatives said India Joy has once again showcased the potential and global relevance of Hyderabad in the creative technology space. They believe Hyderabad is sending a strong message that the city is not only a hub of IT engineering but is also gearing up to become a hub of creativity-led IP, new media storytelling, esports growth and digital art excellence. Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, film producer Dil Raju, actor Teja Sajja and several international dignitaries participated in the inaugural ceremony.

With the rapid adoption of AI in content creation, gaming, film production and VFX workflows, governments worldwide are making creative technology a central part of their innovation strategy. Telangana believes this is the right decade to shift from service-based growth to IP-based creative economy growth, which can generate 4X long-term value compared to traditional technology services. The government hopes that the new creative economy push, backed by infrastructure, global partnerships and inclusive funding, will position Hyderabad as India’s most powerful creative capital in the next ten years.