DPIIT partners with KRAFTON India to support gaming, digital startups

In a move aimed at strengthening India’s innovation landscape, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KRAFTON India Pvt Ltd to support startups in the gaming and digital entertainment sectors.The collaboration seeks to promote innovation among startups, entrepreneurs, and developers working in areas such as online gaming, esports, interactive media, and artificial intelligence-driven technologies.
Under the partnership, DPIIT and KRAFTON India will explore organising innovation challenges under the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge, along with targeted hackathons, workshops, and masterclasses. These initiatives will focus on domains including game design, animation, immersive technologies, esports management, and AI applications.The MoU also aims to facilitate industry interactions, knowledge exchange, and exposure to global best practices. Selected startups may be offered opportunities for pilot collaborations, with scope for further engagement based on outcomes.
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the initiative is designed to help startups build scalable, industry-relevant solutions through structured engagement with industry stakeholders.As part of the programme, participating startups will gain access to mentorship, industry insights, and curated engagement platforms. The collaboration is also expected to support startups in achieving key milestones such as Proof-of-Concept (PoC) development, market access, and integration into broader industry ecosystems.
Speaking on the development, Joint Secretary at DPIIT Sanjiv said the partnership marks an important step in strengthening India’s digital and creative economy. He noted that such collaborations enable startups to innovate, scale, and build globally competitive solutions in emerging technology domains.The initiative will also contribute to ecosystem-building through outreach efforts and participation in Startup India programmes, enhancing engagement across the startup ecosystem.The MoU was signed by Deputy Secretary, DPIIT TLK Singh and Head of Government Relations at KRAFTON India Vibhor Kukreti, in the presence of senior officials from both sides.