The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has partnered with WinZO, a social gaming and interactive entertainment platform, to strengthen India’s position in the global gaming market. The collaboration, formalised through a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aims to foster innovation, support startups and address key challenges in the industry.The DPIIT-WinZO partnership is designed to create an ecosystem for over 2,000 startups, innovators and students in the interactive entertainment sector. A key component of the initiative is the establishment of a Center of Excellence (CoE), which will focus on developing skilled talent, fostering innovation in game monetisation strategies and supporting the creation of ‘Made in India’ intellectual properties of global standards.The CoE will address critical challenges such as monetisation issues and talent gaps in India’s gaming sector. It will also support startups through mentorship, industry connections and access to a USD 50 million fund for interactive entertainment ventures provided by WinZO. Programs such as hackathons, accelerator programs and curated pitch events also will enable startups to gain visibility and scale operations.The interactive entertainment industry in India is projected to grow to USD 60 billion by 2034, creating over 2 million jobs, according to a USISPF report. By establishing a framework to attract foreign direct investment and driving the local manufacturing of interactive technology products, the MoU seeks to capture a substantial portion of the USD 300 billion global gaming market.WinZO’s Tech Triumph Program, which has already showcased Indian gaming talent at global forums such as the Game Developers Conference (GDC) and Gamescom LATAM, will now expand under DPIIT’s guidance. The initiative will also focus on equipping professionals with advanced skills in coding, animation, game design and development to meet the growing demands of the industry.The partnership aligns with the government’s broader objectives of self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Key government officials, including Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary, DPIIT and Dr. Sumeet Kumar Jarangal, Director (Startup India), spoke about the potential of this collaboration to drive entrepreneurship and innovation in the gaming sector.WinZO Co-founder Saumya Singh Rathore stated the strategic importance of the MoU in positioning Indian gaming products and intellectual property on the global stage. The partnership is expected to empower startups with critical resources, mentorship and exposure to international markets, setting a foundation for India’s emergence as a leader in gaming and technology innovation.