Funding institutions

Funding programmes for the games industry

Funding programmes for the games industry

Games funding is available from a number of official sources in Germany. Here, we provide an overview of the various funding measures and institutions.

The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) has offered funding for the development of game prototypes and the production of computer games since 2019. The ministry’s division for funding initiatives and data innovation (DG 21) answers developers’ questions on organisational, specialist and business management matters. E-mail: games[at]bmvi.bund.de

Many German states and the European Union also offer funding for game development. Funding is additionally available to companies and company founders.

We will be happy to answer any general questions you may have with respect to funding. The following is a selection of institutions and the respective contact partners:

Regional Project Funding


FFF Bayern Logo

FilmFernsehFonds Bayern GmbH

Contact: Dr. Michaela Haberlander and Joannis Xenakis

Email: michaela.haberlander[at]fff-bayern.de

Email: joannis.xenakis[at]fff-bayern.de


Film_und_MediaStiftung_NRW_01

Film- und Medienstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen GmbH

Contacts: Till Hardy and André Weiß

Email: tillhardy[at]filmstiftung.de

Email: AndreWeiss[at]filmstiftung.de


Gamecity Hamburg

Contact: Dennis Schoubye

Email: Dennis.Schoubye[at]gamecity-hamburg.de


Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg (GAMES BW)

Contact: Iris Harr

Email: harr[at]mfg.de


HessenFilm und Medien GmbH

Contact: David Harth

Email: harth[at]hessenfilm.de


Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH

Contact: Joscha Neumann

Email: j.neumann[at]medienboard.de


MdM_01Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung GmbH

Contact: Sarah Weding

Email: sarah.weding[at]mdm-online.de


Nordmedianordmedia – Film- und Mediengesellschaft Niedersachsen/Bremen mbH

Contact: Roman Winkler

Email: r.winkler[at]nordmedia.de


Saarland Medien

Contact: Bernd Schneider

Email: games[at]saarland-medien.de


Medienförderung RLP

Contact: Thomas Schmid

Email: Schmid[at]medienanstalt-rlp.de


WTSH Wirtschaftsförderung und Technologietransfer Schleswig-Holstein

Contact: Lena Lietz

Email: lietz[at]wtsh.de


European Funding

Creative_Europe_hoch_01Creative Europe

Contacts:
– Hamburg – Christiane Siemen – siemen[at]ced-hamburg.eu
– Berlin – Uta Eberhardt – u.eberhardt[at]ced-bb.eu
– Munich – Ewa Szurogajlo – es[at]ced-muenchen.eu
– NRW – Heike Meyer-Döring – info[at]ced-nrw.eu


Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung – KMU-innovativ

Contact: lotse[at]kmu-innovativ.de


Start-up funding

Exist
supports academics in translating their idea into a business plan.
Contact: 030 20199 411
ptj-exist-gruenderstipendium[at]fz-juelich.de

INVEST – grant for venture capital
for all start-ups currently seeking an investor. Your business angels are reimbursed for 20% of their investment when they provide your start-up with at least 10,000 euros (max. 1 million euros/year). INVEST reduces the risk of making equity investments.
Contact: +49 (0)6196 908 1964
Further information: download brochure

KfW start-up loans
KfW provides loans – ‘StartGeld’, ‘Capital for Start-ups’ and ‘Universal’ – to support founders and small and medium-sized businesses from the start-up phase to participation in trade fairs.
Contact:info[at]kfw.de

Mein Mikrokredit
a launch solution, though at a high interest rate (9.9%), for start-ups without backing from a credit institution.
Contact: +49 (0)30 221 911 007

High-Tech Gründerfonds
conceived as a partner for financing, networking and support for your innovative business idea.
Contactt: dealflow[at]htgf.de

Awards

The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) and game – the German Games Industry Association give out the German Computer Games Awards (DCP), with support from the Stiftung Digitale Spielekultur (Digital Games Culture Foundation). Cash prizes totalling 590,000 euros were awarded in 2020.