Funding institutions 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 Econnomic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) has offered funding for the development of game prototypes and the production of computer games since 2019. The ministry’s division for cultural and creative industries; games (VI B6) answers developers’ questions on organisational, specialist and business management matters. E-mail: games[at]bmwk.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 FilmFernsehFonds Bayern GmbH Contact: Joannis Xenakis, Thorsten Suckow Email: games[at]fff-bayern.de 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 Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung GmbH Contact: Sarah Weding Email: sarah.weding[at]mdm-online.de nordmedia – Film- und Mediengesellschaft Niedersachsen/Bremen mbH Contact: Roman Winkler Email: r.winkler[at]nordmedia.de Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Innovation, Digitales und Energie Saarland (MWIDE) Ansprechperson: Nico Graf Email: n.graf[at]wirtschaft.saarland.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 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 800,000 euros were awarded in 2023.
