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The state is increasing the funding amount for the Games BW funding guideline to a total of 1.2 million euros. Games are important drivers of innovation for other sectors of the economy and formative cultural forms of our time.
The funding volume for games funding in the country can be increased again in 2024 through the involvement of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism. Together with funding from the Ministry of Science, Research and Art, a total of 1.2 million euros will be available for the Games BW funding guideline in 2024 . In Baden-Württemberg, the MFG Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg is responsible for games funding under the name “GAMES BW”.
Games industry as a driver of innovation
Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut , Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism, underlines the future-oriented importance of the games industry for all other industries in Baden-Württemberg as well as its important role in digital change and the further development of existing business models: “Games technologies are widely used beyond the entertainment sector in all economic sectors, from the automotive industry to mechanical engineering to medical technology and of course in the entire area of ??training and further education. The games industry is therefore a special driver of innovation and a “digital frontrunner” that develops innovative solutions and future technologies that are successfully used in all industries and represents an important prerequisite for the development of new or improved business models, said the minister.
State Secretary for the Arts Arne Braun emphasizes the development potential of the industry: “The games funding is an investment in the future viability of our economic and digital location and, together with artificial intelligence and animation, a flagship of Baden-Württemberg. At the same time, games are an important cultural asset and an exciting form of enabling cultural participation. It is therefore right that our cultural institutions deal with the medium and that the universities and academies in the country offer specific courses of study.” The fact that the Ministry of Economic Affairs is now starting to promote games is also important for the cross-industry perception of games technologies.
Digital games for training, education and training
The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism is supporting the state funding for Games BW for the first time this year with 600,000 euros. With its entry, the Ministry of Economics wants to promote not only pure entertainment games but also digital games that are not only part of the entertainment sector, but also serve, for example, for training, education and further training and can be considered particularly innovative.
The BW Ministry of Science, Research and Art has been supporting the funding of game developments since 2011 and has continuously increased funding in recent years. In addition, the Ministry of Science supports other MFG programs for qualification and networking in the industry.
The state funding Games BW
According to the 2023 location study on the cultural and creative industries in Baden-Württemberg (PDF) commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs , based on data from the German games association game eV , the entire software/games industry counted a total of 5,514 companies in 2021 with a turnover of 13.517 billion euros. The overview compiled by the association showed a total of 153 companies and institutions in the games market in Baden-Württemberg for December 2022. Most of these (96 companies) are in the core market of developers and publishers, followed by companies in the service industry (47 companies). There are also 38 companies in other segments of the games market, such as eSports, retail, media and press. The companies are spread across the country and can be found in both larger and smaller cities. The focus is on the regions of Stuttgart (31), Karlsruhe (29) and Ludwigsburg (14).
With around 15 Baden-Württemberg training centers in the games sector, the state offers optimal conditions for positive start-up dynamics and a diverse games scene in Baden-Württemberg. The Film Academy in Ludwigsburg, the Media University in Stuttgart, the SRH Heidelberg , the Offenburg University and the Furtwangen University offer games-specific courses.
The MFG Baden-Württemberg offers further industry-specific support measures for games students and games companies. In addition to the Games BW funding, the state agency supports the games industry through cross-university cooperation and the promotion of young talent, through the Developer Boost start-up program and GamesHubs in the state, through regular networking events such as the Open Stage Games BW or the Gamestate Festival Baden-Württemberg , and through the Games BW industry platform Players and the THE LÄND trade fair stand at Gamescom in Cologne.
