Franziska Giffey: "The Federal States are Very Much in Agreement"

When asked about the Federal states' harmonious stance on the Federal governments new funding guidelines at gamescom congress, Berlin representative Franziska Giffey explained to GamesMarkt how she sees the relation of the states as competitiors and cooperators and the way to a greater good for the German games industry.

At the political roundtable on gamescom congress, the tone between the politicians was more cooperative than confrontational, even if the Federal government had to endure some critique. Remarkably, the state representatives buried their differences to come together in agreement for several changes the new Federal funding guidelines should encompass.

In the context of gamescom congress, GamesMarkt asked Berlin's representative Franziska Giffey, Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises and Mayor, for comment on the cooperation between the states. She says: "We in the federal states are very much in agreement that we expect clarity, reliability and predictability from the federal government. We have no disagreement with the other Federal states. NRW Minister Liminski and I agree that our joint demand to the Federal government is to maintain the possibility of combining state and federal funding, even if the Rechnungshof currently takes a somewhat different view. We need to see what the industry needs and what will advance Germany as a business location. Providing incentives through the best possible cooperation between the Federal and state governments, but also, if necessary, through adjustments to the taxes, are issues that we states are working on together.

Berlin is a strong games centre, as is Cologne. But of course we are at gamescom to represent the Games Capital Berlin. Competition stimulates business, after all. We have a very strong gaming centre, a large proportion of German game developers are based here. We host over 300 companies and several thousand employees who are developing the industry in the metropolitan region. This is also the reason why Berlin is leading when it comes to spending from the state budget for the games industry and therefore games funding. This is a very clear political prioritisation. And the House of Games project, which we will establish, will be a beacon for Germany, something that doesn't exist anywhere else. We are open to anyone who wants to come to Berlin, but we are also open to cooperation in terms of our common German interest in advancing the industry."